Artwork Details
59-3/8 x 14-1/4 x 12-3/8 in. (installed)
Accession NumberMen's Art Club Fund
CopyrightPurchased by the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1981 (Christie, Mason and Woods, New York, New York)
Here, colorful neon tubing is shaped into an ampersand symbol that is repeated five times. The use of Plexiglas produces a mirroring effect due to its reflective surface. The glowing ampersand evokes the urban environment and its myriad advertising, but loses meaning through fragmentation and lack of context.
Inspired by the bold signage found in New York City’s Times Square, Chryssa was one of the first artists to work with neon as a medium during the 1960s. Engaging with cultural symbols, language, and communication, she produced a diverse body of work that highlights the aesthetics and conditions of modern life. Made in 1965, this prescient work encourages viewers to ponder the ways such symbols, including the “@” sign, can take on new meaning over time.
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