Neon Art

Ever since Tracey Emin started writing rude words in neon I have wanted some in my house. Alas it’s fiendishly expensive and I worried that it would be a passing fad. Like the pineapple motif (although admittedly that particular one seems to be taking a while to work its way through). I feared that we would all be filling our houses with naff neon sayings and then having to sell them on ebay as it became ubiquitous.

But that hasn’t happened. Possibly because of the price. After all a tea towel with… don’t say it but it begins with Keep Calm… costs nothing and you can use it for dusters when you’re bored with it. Or to strangle the person who mentions it. Anyway, neon art is still cool. It was cool when Tracey started it back in 2001,  it’s still cool now and I still want some. Enter Bag and Bones, a fairly new company, run by sisters Gigi and Cavanagh Foyle. Their work has started popping up in magazines and on the instagram feeds of various interior stylists and I wanted to investigate.

The problem is, it’s a bit like a tattoo – what design or words do you choose. I don’t have a tattoo. This is more by chance than by judgement. I never quite knew what it should say so I never got round to doing it. It’s the same with the neon. Swearing? Derivative. Epigrams? Could grate after a while. Also – expensive as they’re long. Shapes? Which one?

And once again I’m stifled by indecision. Although there has been progress. I have identified the single spot in the house where a piece of neon art needs to be. Over the fridge. It’s a slightly hidden spot but I think that’s often the key to a successful room. Put something amazing quietly in a corner. Where it’s not shouting but where, when you notice it, it’s an unexpected pleasure.

I hate built-in fridges. They always look like fridges with slightly awkward cupboards around them. It’s like a person trying to squeeze into a coat that’s too small and they’re just about in but wanting to break out without splitting the seams. It’s a fridge. We’ve all got one. You bought the best one you could afford at the time. Let it stand there and do its fridging. Stop trying to pretend it isn’t there.

But they do often have an awkward space around them. Himself suggested extending the open shelves but that will lead to the built-in look. We also tried painting the wall behind it black to match the cupboards. We thought it would look amazing. I can’t tell you how terrible it looked. I have no idea why. That lasted less than 24 hours. The wall is white again and the gap remains.

Then suddenly I realised. It needs a neon. Something that will add a little extra glimmer of light when the downlights are off. Something that won’t shout and demand all the attention when it’s turned off and won’t shine in people’s faces across the table. Brilliant. A piece of neon art it shall be.

But which one? I love the lips but worry that everyone will have them. So far we are stuck at cat. I’m wondering about just the enigmatic smile of the Cheshire cat – one of my favourite characters from one my favourite books. Of course Enid will think it’s about her but then she thinks everything is about her.

Yesterday I made supper for the 15yo and the 13yo and called: “Tea’s ready.” Who should come bounding into the room first from her snooze on the sofa? Oh yes she did. The teenagers were several minutes later. A Cat smile in neon maybe. An enigmatic one? Perhaps not.

What do you think about Neon? Fancy some in your house? Do give me some suggestions for what I should have in the comments box below.