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Published:
2 December 2014
Category:
News
Chris Bracey, ‘Neon Man’ for nearly four decades, and the British artist and designer who created one of the largest collections of neon signs and lighting sculpture outside the USA, has died aged just 59. But his collection’s fantastic manifestation, ‘God’s Own Junkyard’, lives on in Walthamstow, East London. James Hunt went along and was bowled over:
Chris Bracey, born on Christmas Day 1954 in Walthamstow, had only quite recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer and lost his fight for life only a couple of weeks ago. He had started work as a graphic designer in the early 1970s but soon partnered his father in the family’s neon sign business.
He quickly realised that there was business to be had in Soho London’s sex industry, which was fast growing at the time, and he estimated that he must have supplied “99% of every sex establishment in Soho for 20 years”.
Whether this is something to boast about or not, Chris certainly evolved the business and became a sculptor in neon light and artist in his own right. The ‘Neon Man’ (also known as the ‘Master of Glow’) created many iconic artpieces for David la chappelle, Martin Creed, Kate Moss, rapper Professor Green, Stanley Kubrick (for a film set), Tim Burton, Jude Law, Daisy Lowe and Lady Gaga among others.
His commissions have included Saint and Sin, a neon sculpture having a pair of open legs with an angel in a cloud at the top, a life-size statue of Jesus holding a pair of neon pistols entitled the ‘Hands of God’, and a huge neon ‘Aladdin Sane’ lightning bolt for last year’s V&A Bowie exhibition – and many, many others.
Moreover, ‘God’s Own Junkyard’ has been used in other innovative ways – for example, as a Vogue shoot.
Indeed, Chris Bracey had a cult following – not just in London, but also in Los Angeles. He used, made and otherwise provided both new and used neon fantasies, salvaged signs, vintage neons, old movie props and retro displays. He forged neon art made from found objects, retrieved and renewed waste and lights, fairground and circus lighting, plus architectural sign salvage.
Light sources and connections
Although when I visited ‘God’s Own Junkyard’ I could see no obvious evidence of anything other than wonderful neons (and a few incandescents), Chris did also work with cold cathode (a form of neon lighting) and modern LED light sources.
Some of the lighting backdrops from the many films he supplied are kept at ‘Gods Own Junkyard’, together with discarded shop signs, religious statues and many other extraordinary designs – just take a look at the photos.
And for those with professional lighting on the brain – and with sharp eyes – there is more than a connection, because there for all to see is that unmistakable blue neon logo for Philips, which is of course, a Voltimum founder member partner.
Do go along, especially when there’s dark rainy afternoon to while away. ‘God’s Own Junkyard’ is open weekends, on Fridays from 11am to 5pm, Saturdays from 11am to 9pm and Sundays from 11am to 6pm – and it’s FREE!
The ‘Rolling Scones Café’ is open for food and drinks all weekend and there’s a neon-lit (what else?) garden too.
‘Gods Own Junkyard’ is at Unit 12, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall Street, London E17 9HQ. Go to: www.godsownjunkyard.co.uk or call 020 8509 0157 (Saturdays and Sundays).