Warsaw is the home to many wonderful neons. For now, I will introduce you to one of my personal favorites: the Siatkarka (the Volleyball Player). I have known her for a long time and although she is in a very central spot – I often forget she’s there and am pleasantly surprised when I spot her again. To see her, you have to remind yourself that you can’t always look at your feet – you miss so much!

The Siatkarka, designed by Jan Mucharski in 1960, was and remains one of the city’s most beautiful neons. (Unfortunately, the photo doesn’t do it justice – so you’ll just have to go see for yourself!) It shows a woman jumping to hit a volleyball and the volleyball, once hit, falls to the ground. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the 2000’s, it was not in the best shape…

In 2006, the artist Paulina Ołowska took it upon herself to begin saving Warsaw’s dying neons. She restored the wonderful Siatkarka with her own money – all the funds came from paintings she had sold. In an interview, she explained that she had taken so much from the 1960’s aesthetic, it was now time for her to give back. Now, again, it shines brightly above Plac Konstytucji!

If you are intrigued by Warsaw’s neons, definitely take a nice stroll around Warsaw at night; the award-winning documentary Neon by Eric Bednarski is definitely worth a watch; and a visit to the Neon Museum is also a must!