The most popular neon signs include the illuminated thief at Plac Kościuszki and "Good evening in Wroclaw" opposite the Central Train Station. However, there are many more neon signs in the city, but because they are old, defunct or in bad condition, only few people can be bothered to notice them at all.
The Neon Side Foundation searches for old neon signs to buy them and bring them back to life, and by the end of August the results of their restoration work will be put up on display at the Neon Side Gallery at Ruska 46c
"Neon Side Story. A prologue"
The gallery's venue is being renovated at the moment, but because of the Night of the Museums a decision was made to open it to public.
"We have opened it for that one night only, but we are going to close the doors and knuckle down after the event. We would like to open the gallery by the end of the summer," says Daniela Szymczak from the Neon Side Foundation.
We have lit two neon signs to celebrate the event: a huge neon sign of the former automatic plant Elam on ul Chorwacka." "This was one of the largest projects of ours to date," admits Daniela. "The sign was installed very high up in the air and it was very difficult to take it off. Luckily, we have managed to do so," sha adds.
The second neon sign that we lit on Saturday contains a section of the installation which used to be mounted on the roof of the Central Train Station. Our visitors could also see several other neon signs that are currently being renovated.
It's expensive but it's worth it
The foundation has been operating for nearly ten years now. It was back in 2005 that its founder, Tomasz Kosmalski, bought his first neon sign, which served as a shop sign at the confectionery shop on ul Nowowiejska.
"Currently, the foundation is in possession of 45 such illuminated signs. Some of them are still waiting to be brought back to life," tells Daniela Szymczak. While neon signs are very expensive to restore, it is also very time consuming to save them from the scrap heap. First, you need to ask the owner of the building on which the neon sign was installed for permission. We sometimes pay for it and sometimes receive it as a donation. I remember the neon sign of the Alliance Française on ul Świdnicka. As the company was leaving the building, they gave it to scrap gatherers. We had to search a lot to find it in one of the scrap heaps scattered around Wroclaw," he adds laughingly.
Once the neon sign has been acquired, a mundane and expensive restoration process begins.
"The glass tubes in which gas is kept are the most expensive of all," says Daniela. "We have a friendly company that produces neon signs and we often use their services, but we are still looking for sponsors, too.
Neon yard on ul Ruska
Only several neon signs will be available on display at the gallery. The majority of the collection will be installed on the elevations of the buildings in the yard in which the gallery is located.
"We collaborate with the municipal company Wroclawska Rewitalizacja, which is why the neon signs will also be on display outdoors. For starters, we will install ten such neon signs, and they all will be illuminated. I hope that the open air exhibition will grow in size over time. We are particularly keen to keep it outdoors because this is where the neon signs naturally belong.
The official opening of the Neon Side Gallery in scheduled for the end of August this year.
Written by and photographs: Ula Jagielnicka
