Yanz

Metropolitan {Neon Series} 

By Yanz + Iris

Neon has always been a great inspiration for us. 

Iris and I grew up in China in the early 90s. It was not like it is today, in which tall buildings and shopping malls are all over the cities, Subways take you to every corner, and night life won’t end until the morning. In the early 90s, streets with a bunch of neon signs were the primary representations of modernity and consumerism.

We are so intrigued to see and feel the culture through the lens of neon signs. Not just because of the moody lighting and symbolic graphics with traditional patterns; neons are like wise elders that have been wading through the river of time and now remind us of the shining and dark moments of the city through history.

Beyond all of this significance, neon has lit up the city streets over the past hundred years. Without neon, cities would be quiet and dark at night. Neons enriched our urban stories, both joyful or sorrowful. We have become so used to big LED screens delivering advertisements all the time and so the human touch of hand-crafted neons are inevitably fading.

This installation Metropolitan [Neon series] is a visual diary of us. Immerse yourselves here, activate your memories and imagination, and embrace your feelings.