It irritates me when I stumble over visitors taking selfies at each exhibit. However, on “Angel’s Rainbow” it was different.

The crowd, warming up in the cosy light of the neon signs presented at “Zachęta” (a very popular contemporary art gallery in Warsaw), impressed me no less than the exhibition itself.

fot.: Marek Krzyżanek / Zachęta

It is not difficult to fall under the charm of neons. What happened at the Sarkis exhibition is the best proof of that. The main exhibition, with the rainbow in its centre, resembled a photo studio full of amateur photographers. Visitors, enchanted by the atmosphere, took pictures here with everything that could take photos. And as much as possible.

fot.: Anna Brzezińska-Czerska

It moved me. But now, looking through the photos on my phone I’m not so sure that they grasp the atmosphere of these light projects… But the atmosphere itself was unique.

Sarkis is a conceptual artist who refers to his works to contemporary social issues. He often uses traditional neon as a material in his art (and, nomen omen, photography;)). The exhibition at Zachęta gave the biggest emphasis on that Sarkis actions take place locally, are set in the context of the place.

That is why he invited to this exhibition his Polish collaborators. He asked them to write down quotes that were important to them. The artist transformed then some of these slogans into neon installations while maintaining the original characters of the authors’ handwriting. And so, apart from the rainbow that appears many times in his productions, you can find at Zachęta 21 neon sentences.

The presentation was supplemented by compilations of reportage photos from demonstrations, armed conflicts, slum settlements, etc. You could see a contrast in them (but this may already be my over-interpretation), because in most of these juxtapositions, civilization drama, caused directly by people, clashed with independent occurrences, usually resulting from the rhythm of nature.

The exhibition was “finished” with an installation with an angel-girl. Neon again.
Unfortunately, although there are many real “gems” here in terms of shining, I have not found any references to neon lights in terms of history and craft. However, I believe this will change in the future.

The design collection in the National Museum in Warsaw has about 25,000 objects, and the new gallery only shows 600 of them. However, according to the announcements of the director of the institution, the presentations are to change frequently, so that as many exhibits can see the light of day.