La Maison Rouge in Paris will present the first major international exhibition on the history of neon, titled, "Neon, Who's Afraid of Red Yellow and Blue?"
A hundred years ago French physicist and chemist Georges Claude developed the first neon tube, displaying it for the first time at the Paris World Fair. When the element was first invented, scientist Morris Travers wrote: "The blaze of crimson light from the tube told its own story and was a sight to dwell upon and never forget."
Now neon is mostly used to navigate others through urban areas once dusk settles in. Even though the material is nearly inseparable from the messages it carries, there was a long history that led neon to this point -- a history filled with experimentation and illumination.
The exhibition features works from a variety of influential artists. Lucio Fontana's glimmering constellations invite the same contemplation as the night sky itself, while Bruce Nauman's "None Sing, Neon Sign" offers an electrifying play on language as a pattern of curves and lines rather than literal meaning. Explore the place where science, advertising and conceptual art meet. Artifice emits a life force of its own in this exhibition which hums and glows.
"Neon, Who's Afraid of Red Yellow and Blue?" will be on view at La Maison Rouge in Paris until May 20. It will feature artists including Lucio Fontana, Francois Morellet, Bruce Nauman, Stephen Antonakos, Joseph Kosuth, Mario Merz, Jason Rhoades, Sylvie Fleury and Claude Leveque.
whos afraid of red, yellow and blue?
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Open Image ModalJoseph Kosuth'Neon' 196510 cm x 35 cmcool white neon mounted directly on the wallCourtesy of Joseph Kosuth and Almine Rech Gallery
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Open Image ModalStefan BruggemannTHIS WORK SHOULD BE TURNED OFF WHEN I DIE, 2010neon49.21 x 76.77 in (125 x 195 cm)Crédit photo: Didier BarrosoCourtesy Yvon Lambert
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Open Image ModalBertrand LavierIfafa V (Stella)2008Courtesy Galerie Yvon Lambert, Paris
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Open Image ModalBruce NaumanNone Sing, Neon Sign197030 x 61 cmcollection Sylvio Perlstein, Paris
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Open Image ModalLucio FontanaConcetto Spaziale (#65B6)1965Fondation Lucio Fontana, Milan
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Open Image ModalAlfredo Jaar
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Open Image ModalJean-Michel AlberolaRien, 2011Neon et plexiglas26 x 36 cmCourtesy de l'artiste et de la galerie Daniel Templon, Paris
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Open Image ModalDan FlavinUntitled, 1968Tubes fluorescents jaunes, métal, plastique dépoli, 122 x 32 x 64 cmCollection Sylvio Perlstein, Anvers - Droits Réservés
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Open Image ModalClaude LévêqueRevez !, 2008NéonLongueur : 100cm© ADAGP/Claude lévêqueCourtesy the artist and Kamel Mennour, Paris.
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Open Image ModalJill MagidI Can Burn Your Face: Vincent II, 20087mm neon, transformers and wires, artist proof39 x 24 x 5 inches (99.1 x 61 x 12.7 cm)(Inv# JIMA-0058)Courtesy Yvon LambertCrédit photo: Didier Barroso
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Open Image ModalMartial RaysseSnack1963François Pinault Foundation
Video : Jean-Nicolas Schoeser
copyright la maison rouge
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