Artist Spotlight: Glass Neon Artist Megan Foo on Reviving a Heritage Craft
Colorful, vibrant, eye-catching. These are just some of the words to describe neon art. Its history can be traced all the way back to the 20th century when neon art was first developed and commercialized. Today, we see these art pieces mostly as signage, illuminating iconic streets from Hong Kong’s Nathan Road to the neon-drenched boulevards of Las Vegas.
But there’s more to the art than just signage. Contemporary artists have made use of this medium through the decades, blending traditional craftsmanship with today’s modern technology. We suppose it’s the art piece’s captivating look and glowing form that drew in Singapore’s only glass neon artist, Megan Foo, from the beginning.
“My first encounter with neon was in Bayswater, Melbourne, with Neon Master, Steven Cole. It was the first workshop that I had ever attended, and he was the first person who got me interested in the medium,” she told The Beat Asia. “I was always drawn to it, but never knew how they were made until I tried it in Bayswater.”
Before her artist era, Megan was a corporate girl who worked in marketing. She earned her business management degree from the Singapore Management University and went on to become part of the regional social media and influencer team at Sephora Southeast Asia, where she launched the Regional Sephora Squad program.
Megan would’ve been all set working a job she enjoyed, but the artist life called to her unexpectedly, and before she knew it, she had traded her white collar for a more colorful one.
“It is a niche and beautiful craft that should live on in our generation. I’d hate for something so amazing, in both science and art, to die!”
Becoming Singapore’s Only Glass Neon Artist
Megan was trained under a neon master from Hsinchu, Taiwan, who has over 50 years of neon-making and neon art experience. Her master was also reported to have experience setting up neon factories in China back in the day.
“My first ever work was an outline of a city skyline. It was gifted to my friend, and it now resides on the wall above her bedframe. *laughs* In the beginning, I was skeptical that I would be able to complete it, but with the guidance and reassurance of Steven (her neon artist mentor from Bayswater), I made it happen. After that piece, he challenged me to do something even more complex!”
When asked about the process of the craft, the “light bender” broke it down to a few simple steps, which seemed easier said than done.
“In general, there is a particular process for neon pieces,” she said. “So, it’s designing the pattern or design, structuring the design to be suitable for neon work, bending glass into the shape of the pattern, the 'bombarding' process, and finally assembly and/or installation.”
Neon art craftsmanship has been around for many years and makes use of traditional glass blowing methods, a craft that originated in the Middle East, which was later on monopolized by the Italian industry, where most of today’s most beautiful glass art can be found — specifically on the island of Murano near Venice. Although technically a form of glass art, the glass neon craft also has its signature elements.
“It has certain elements that are unique to the medium, like 'bombarding,' which is the process of heating up and cleaning the tube to create a vacuum to then fill with gas. Some other differences include types of equipment and materials used and the way in which the material is manipulated by fire,” she explained.
As for its challenges, the artist named a few, proving that the craft is not for the faint-hearted and requires a certain amount of hard work, passion, and dedication. Some challenges she mentioned include accessibility to equipment and materials, and finding someone willing and able to teach the craft. There’s also time spent as you will need to learn and get used to the equipment, as well as financial cost, considering it’s expensive to receive formal training and to start your own studio.
Despite all these, Megan pushed through, using her presence online to spread her knowledge of the craft and sharing her process and impressive commissions from well-known brands such as Royal Caribbean and Potato Corner.
We suppose the words retro and nostalgic could also be added to the list of adjectives for glass neon art since Megan is also reviving this art form and giving it a modern look as her posts set aglow on social media feeds, encouraging people to rediscover and appreciate the art form.
“I think it’s a unique heritage craft that is underrated and deserves more recognition in our generation. When people think of neon, many people associate it with Hong Kong’s neon signs. What people don’t realize is that neon also used to be a part of Singapore’s history. We also used to have a neon skyline that has been forgotten when many of these signs were torn down in the 90s.”
“In general, all of my pieces are created with the heart to try to revive the medium,” she added. “Regardless of whether neon is created in collaboration with brands to give more exposure to the medium or creating something more unique, like wearable neon for events and photoshoots.”
Although relatively new to the art scene, Megan has already shown her talent, perseverance, and passion for the craftsmanship. Turning fire into light is pretty impressive in itself, but to have the courage to switch careers and pursue the path of an artist is altogether inspiring. Reckless, perhaps for some, as creative professionals are defined by the hours they put into their craft rather than how much they make, which is a challenge in achieving "career stability," but Megan points out the most important thing when choosing a career to pursue.
“I think I’m fortunate to have experienced both the business side of things and the artistic side of things, and that has shaped my perspective in how I approach my craft and the way I brand myself. However, I’d say the most important thing is to find a path that is unique to you. Because only you, and no one else, can know what aligns with who you are as an individual.”
As for what’s next for Megan, she named a few of her favorite brands that she would like to collaborate with in the future, including Nike, Yves Saint Laurent, and Mercedes-Benz. If you’re interested in what she’s currently working on, the artist cheekily responded, “That’s a secret that you’ll have to stay tuned to find out.”
Stay tuned to Megan’s glowing artistic journey by following her on Instagram and TikTok.
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