Edge Art Collective: The centenary of the Neon sign

To celebrate the centenary of the Neon sign the BBC’s Front Row commissioned Northern artist, Richard William Wheater, to create a large neon sign of the word ‘Listen’ to hang outside the BBC’s new Salford offices. Wilson said he chose 'Listen' partly because of its obvious connection to radio, but also because he liked the idea of a visual artwork stimulating an aural action. The sign was unveiled on the 21^st December and will remain until 12^th Night, on the 6^th January.

Part of Wheater’s interest in working with Neon, light and glass is the medium’s relationship with people and the environment. In his interest to explore the narrative and interplay between medium and spectator, Wheater teamed with artist Victoria Lucas on a 12 month project called 12 Months of Neon Love which began on St Valentines day in 2011. The artists took 12 snippets of lyrics from well-known love songs and created large red neon signs from them. They then placed them above a neon workshop Wakefield so passers by and commuters could experience the lyrical artwork.

Here is a selection of artworks using this very evocative and suggestive medium.

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