Jānis Straume-Brolišs

Neon Lightroom

Lamp maker

©Pietro Lucerni

Shaping light

Jānis is a self-taught neon artist
He has more than 20 years of experience
There are not many neon artists in the world

With over two decades of experience in the realm of neon art, Jānis Brolišs stands as a seasoned practitioner. His journey in mastering this craft has mainly been a product of self-teaching, guided by the expertise of Latvian and Lithuanian masters. Working with neon is a rare pursuit, as it demands a substantial investment of time, finances, and is a craft that cannot be automated. Despite the time-consuming and error-prone nature of mastering the art of adding gas into glass tubes, Jānis remains committed to continuous learning, viewing it as the pathway to manifest his unique vision of the world and illuminate it with his creations. Presently, Jānis actively crafts his artworks while engaging in diverse collaborative projects.

Interview

©Pietro Lucerni

©Pietro Lucerni

Do you master any specific techniques?: I learned this craft mainly from self-study, by watching what other Latvian and Lithuanian craftspeople were doing. The learning process is never-ending, and I have to constantly practise in order not to lose my skills and to develop them further, because that is the only way I can create more complex and high-quality works.
Is there something about your work that people do not usually know?: It takes years of devoted practice to truly capture the essence of bringing the glass to life. The intricacies of the process resist automation, preserving the timeless techniques employed by artists of yesteryears, which continue to be cherished and practised in the present day.
Can you explain more about the process itself?: Every movement is decisive, there is no room for error. Bending the glass rod is the most complicated part. I source glass from Italy, carefully selecting specific colours, types, and diametres, as each variation requires its unique technique.
Do you train apprentices?: Although the result of my work is of interest to young aspirants, when they find out how demanding the process is, they start to have doubts. Everyone wants to get things done quickly these days, but my work is time-consuming and complicated.

Jānis Straume-Brolišs is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2002