The Friday Photos: Neon London

TimW
By TimW Last edited 138 months ago
The Friday Photos: Neon London
Hayward Gallery bar, by Sven Loach
Hayward Gallery bar, by Sven Loach
Anyone know where this is?, by psyxjaw
Anyone know where this is?, by psyxjaw
Red Light District, by Kate O'Neill
Red Light District, by Kate O'Neill
Bright streets, by Cris Rose
Bright streets, by Cris Rose
East End's finest, by Sven Loach
East End's finest, by Sven Loach
Everyone loves Brick Lane, by Mark Pearson
Everyone loves Brick Lane, by Mark Pearson
The famous Frith Street sign, by Tezzer57
The famous Frith Street sign, by Tezzer57
Reflected in the wet streets, by Julien Rath
Reflected in the wet streets, by Julien Rath
Taken at Philthy MacNasty's, Angel, by Blair Kay
Taken at Philthy MacNasty's, Angel, by Blair Kay

Neon is all the rage these days in the art world. Tracy Emin has worked extensively with neon, while the Hayward Gallery on the South Bank hosts a neon-lined cement mixer outside its bar. Created by artist David Batchelor, the  sculpture is a nod to the name of the Hayward's bar — Concrete — and is employed to stunning effect in this first image by Sven Loach.

The remainder of the images in this neon selection are solidly commercial rather than artistically conceived. That's not to say that there isn't inspired use of the medium here, especially the iconic Ronnie Scott's sign. The venerable jazz club must be one of a minority of Soho establishments not using neon to advertise various of-the-night services. Elsewhere we have signs advertising Her Maj, salt beef and a reflected shot of Piccadilly Circus billboards on wet streets.

All images from the Londonist Flickr pool: Sven Loach (x2), Cris Rose, Mark Pearson, psyxjaw, Blair Kay, Kate O'Neill, Tezzer57 and Julien Rath.

Last Updated 07 September 2012