Updated: Feb 5
Marquee lighting is often used outside of theatres and cinemas, with interchangeable text panels. It is often characterised by these bright bulbs around the outside, which is very similar to the Las Vegas sign and other vintage American signage I have researched.
Updated: Jan 28
My project proposal from 05/10/24
I will revisit this at the end of my project to see how my work has changed direction and grown over 3 months.
Updated: Jan 28
S Mark Gubb is a British artist, who created the Nottingham Contemporary art gallery signage. It has heavy mid-century influences, from the colours to the shapes and star. It contains neon and bulb lighting and is reminiscent of the Las Vegas sign. It is extremely eye catching and interesting, especially against the greyish browns of the city scape around it. It has become an iconic land mark, with friends visiting from other cities saying to me - "What is it?" - we are so used to seeing flashing neon in a context of takeaways and seedy back alley sex shops that re-purposing it for an art gallery is frankly genius.
Nottingham Contemporary sign in sunlight, 2014
Nottingham Contemporary sign in the dark, 2014
I am a big believer in making art accessible for all and breaking down the exclusivity for higher classes. Coming from a lower working class background myself, I always felt disparity in being an artist among peers that thought Art was for 'posh' people. I love the notion that making something eye-catching and beautiful makes it accessible to everyone, without leaving too much up for interpretation.
Earlier work by S Mark Gubb has a similar style, with the bright colours and interchangeable marquee text strip, inviting the public to suggest what should be written on the sign.
Trav'ller in the Dark, Changeable sign, Portsmouth 2011