Light artist Chris Bracey is taking us on a journey through his life with Iʼve Looked Up To Heaven And Been Down To Hell, a new exhibition that showcases the talents of a man who manipulates neon like a snake charmer does a cobra.
There will be a few snakes on display in Bracey’s pieces, a favourite component of tattoo art symbolism and themes which he mixes with religious iconography, retro fairground bulbs and neon advertising styles. Bracey learned how to make lighted signs from his father, a fairground sign maker, and took his talents to the streets inspired by London’s Soho of the 1970s. His work is often inspired by pop music with luminescence at their core, such as The Smiths’ There is a Light That Never Goes Out, and has won commissions from a broad spectrum of patrons from the world of fashion (Vivienne Westwood), film (Stanley Kubrick) and photography (David LaChapelle) among many others. Scream gallery on Eastcastle Street, London, is hosting the artist’s first UK solo exhibition until 1st June.
Heaven and Hell, 2013,
Acrylic and neon
Dimensions: 205 x 177 x 200 cm
(80.7 x 69.6 x 78.7″)
Shine a Light in the Darkness of your Soul, 2013,
Neon, aluminium, acrylic, festoon and pigmy bulbs.
Edition of 3. 1 AP
Dimensions: 147 x 154.9 x 15 cm
(57.8 x 60.9 x 5.9″)
Angel, 2010,
Found sculpture, neon and aluminium
Dimensions: 213 x 110 x 75 cm
(83.8 x 43.3 x 29.5″)
Rock ‘N’ Roll, 2013,
Neon and aluminium.
Edition of 3. 1 AP
Dimensions: 89 x 80 x 15 cm
(35 x 31.4 x 5.9″)
Paradise Lost, 2013,
Acrylic paint on reclaimed wood,
aluminium and carnival light bulbs.
Unique
Dimensions: 78 x 189 x 13 cm
(30.7 x 74.4 x 5.1″)
Hands of God, 2013,
Found sculpture, neon and carnival bulbs.
Unique
Dimensions: 180 x 94 x 52 cm
(70.8 x 37 x 20.4″)
