STUDIES IN BENT GLASS.
Neon signs are so ubiquitous in the urban environment that i never imagined how tricky they would be to make. First you must decide on a design, here an angular chandelier, and map out all the necessary bends to create the shape. In this case, i made some wire models to help figure out how the bends would work. Then the glass tubes must be heated and bent into shape, using splices to attach tubes together to get the right length. Then the gas is selected based on the desired colour, and the piece is put through a vacuum that will purify and electrify. The finished piece is super delicate and in this case the gas is ARGON MERCURY, so its toxic if the tube is broken. The install used translucent plexi glass to create a mirrored effect and hide the wiring and transformer.
