Neon style in Cold War Poland

Colourful and creative neon lights were an antidote to Polish Cold War gloom. From the 1950s onwards, bright lights beamed out across the country. But today, as Poland modernises and as buildings come down, many of those lights are going out.

Photographer Ilona Karwinska has captured the period of Poland's "neonisation" in pictures. But what started as a photographic project for a book, has resulted in the creation of a museum dedicated to these works of art. She told Lila Allen why she is on a mission to save Poland's Cold War neons.

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All images subject to copyright. Photos by Ilona Karwińska and Lila Allen, interview by Lila Allen. Music: Dialogue by Tomasz Stanko.

Slideshow production by Paul Kerley. Publication date 15 March 2013.

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Neon Museum - Warsaw

Ilona Karwinska - photographer

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