The visual spectacle of a cityscape illuminated by neon signage is most commonly associated with vistas of Western capitalism, so it may come as a surprise to learn it is also a crucial part of Warsaw’s pre 1989 heritage, and one of the few remnants of the Communist era that commands a sense of affection from many of its residents.
Intended to inform and decorate rather than advertise, the neon designs were often the results of collaboration between artists, architects and city planners.
The post-communist era has seen much neon space turn into billboard space, though in recent years things have looked a little brighter – photographer Ilona Karwińska founded the Neon Museum in 2012 to preserve displaced glass tube artworks, and in 2014 filmmaker Eric Bednarski produced a documentary about the history of the city’s fascination with illuminated gas, entitled Neon. I (fs)
neonmuzeum.org
culture.pl
Photo: © Neon Museum‚ Warsaw; video: Eric Bednarski
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