Keith Sonnier pioneered the use of neon, glass, video and new electronic media in his sculpture during the 1960s, first using neon in his work in 1967. Outmoded in its original function as an advertising medium, the material interested Sonnier and other artists such as Bruce Nauman and Richard Serra for its intensity of color and flexibility to ‘draw’ in space. It evoked intriguing, varied associations ranging from modern consumerism to mysticism. Reflecting on his use of neon, Sonnier said, “Becoming engaged with neon was magical to me. I think in art making there is always a magical element. I think it’s innate in art making and in art perception and viewing. And that’s why I like to get people to go and see art. I want them to get how the work is traveling, like how it’s moving on into their perception in space.”
The Brooklyn Rail | October 2018 | In Conversation
