Keith Sonnier: Zig Zag Square, 2013, neon, enamel paint, glass, aluminum, electrical wire and transformer, 96 inches by 119 inches by 91/2 inches. Photo by Caterina Verda, copyright Keith Sonnier/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Neon is central to Keith Sonnier’s art. Drawing in space with light and creating ethereal sculptural environments made of luminous color and translucent materials like Plexiglas or clear acrylic panels have been his forte for a long time. “Elysian Plain + Early Works” is an intense and exhilarating show of a dozen large-scale wall reliefs spanning more than 40 years. It offers a rewarding opportunity to compare and contrast Sonnier’s classic early neon works like Neon Wrapping Neon IV (1969), with its spare geometry, to his baroque recent compositions, such as the mesmerizing Zig ZagSquare (2013).