An exploration of possible uses of widely used noble gases in glass art

This thesis study focuses on the development of noble gases throughout history and when and how it started to be used in contemporary glass art. Both materials are unique in many ways. Therefore, the variety and sophistication of the materials mentioned challenges and excites the artist. This paper researches and displays how the luminescence was discovered in the 19th century and how it developed to turn into an artistic expression since then. It elaborates on the journey of luminescence from the start at arc welding, the fast-pacing developmental changes in light with the invention of lightbulb by Edison and Geissler tube and the evolution of luminescence with the introduction of the noble gases by W. Ramsey. It has been seen in the research process that all six noble gases are referred to as 'neon' and unless it is stated otherwise, gas discharge as a whole should be inferred. In this thesis study, the preferences of the applications in artworks by the artists and their conceptual relations with the materials are examined based on qualitative and descriptive observation. After the process is investigated with the help of literature review with various available sources (books, thesis studies, articles, companies in the industry, electronic sources, applications and research in the field and museums) and the translation of English and German publications, and interviews with different companies in the field, an argument is made to provide a source in the field, where Turkish sources are limited. Keywords: Noble gases, Contemporary glass art, Neon glass