‘Under Neon Loneliness’ is an immersive audio/visual art installation by artist and designer, Mark James.
Inspired by many a lonely night in Tokyo, the concept was to recreate a feeling, a feeling of being alone in a totally foreign environment. An environment where the viewer is in a darkened space immersed in an audio/visual experience, transporting them to somewhere otherworldly. Creating the sense of being surrounded by people, traffic, trains, in an alien bustling cityscape, one of the busiest, most exciting cities in the world, whilst also experiencing the feeling of undeniable loneliness.
The title is taken from the Manic Street Preachers ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’, and the Patrick Jones poem of the same name.
“I want it to stand like a monolith, a beacon, like an entrance to another world”
Contained inside a matte black 20ft shipping container are 34 light box and neon signs, all individually designed by Mark James. The sign reflections bounce off the walls with mirrors in the floor and ceiling to create the illusion of the signs rising up to infinity.
The signs also feature Mark’s friends and collaborators from Japan, including the world famous architects and interior designers, Wonderwall®, the legendary clothing brand Mountain Research, alongside Scye, Cow Books, RFW, To&Co and Norman Wakabayashi.
Mark James has also created an audio sound-scape featuring field recordings from Tokyo at night. This is the first time he has worked with audio. The track was mixed by long term collaborator, Cian Ciarán, (Super Furry Animals, Das Koolies).
‘Under Neon Loneliness’ will be on display in Central Square, Cardiff from 9th of October through to 3rd November 2024 as part of the Cardiff Music City Festival. 12pm - 8pm
Mae 'Under Neon Loneliness' yn osodwaith clyweledol ymdrochol gan yr artist a’r dylunydd, Mark James.
Wedi'i ysbrydoli gan lawer noson unig yn Tokyo, y cysyniad oedd ail-greu teimlad, teimlad o fod ar eich pen eich hun mewn amgylchedd cwbl dramor. Amgylchedd lle mae'r gwyliwr mewn lle tywyll wedi'i ymdrochi mewn profiad clyweledol, gan ei gludo i rywle arallfydol. Creu'r ymdeimlad o gael eich amgylchynu gan bobl, traffig, trenau, mewn dinas brysur ac estron, un o'r dinasoedd prysuraf, mwyaf cyffrous yn y byd, tra hefyd yn profi'r teimlad o unigrwydd anhygoel.
Daw'r teitl o 'Motorcycle Emptiness' y Manic Street Preachers, a'r gerdd o'r un enw gan Patrick Jones.
"Rwyf am iddo sefyll fel monolith, ffagl, fel mynedfa i fyd arall."
Wedi'i gynnwys y tu mewn i gynhwysydd cludo 20 troedfedd du matte mae 34 o flychau golau ac arwyddion neon, pob un wedi'i gynllunio'n unigol gan Mark James. Mae adlewyrchiadau’r arwydd yn bownsio oddi ar y waliau gyda drychau yn y llawr a'r nenfwd i greu rhith o arwyddion yn codi yn anfeidrol.
Mae'r arwyddion hefyd yn cynnwys ffrindiau a chydweithwyr Mark o Japan, gan gynnwys penseiri a dylunwyr mewnol byd-enwog, Wonderwall®, y brand dillad poblogaidd Mountain Research, ochr yn ochr â Scye, Cow Books, RFW, To&Co a Norman Wakabayashi
Mae Mark James hefyd wedi creu seinlun sain sy’n cynnwys recordiadau maes o Tokyo gyda’r nos. Dyma’r tro cyntaf iddo weithio gyda sain. Cymysgwyd y trac gan gydweithiwr hirdymor iddo, Cian Ciarán, (Super Furry Animals, Das Koolies).
Bydd 'Under Neon Loneliness' yn cael ei arddangos yn y Sgwâr Canolog, Caerdydd o 9 Hydref hyd at 3 Tachwedd 2024 fel rhan o Gwyl Gerdd Dinas Caerdydd. 12pm - 8pm
