I feel like you probably wouldn't use EL wire today although it does have a certain charm - but you can get easier to use lighting up 'wire' LED products today.
https://www.adafruit.com/product/5503
up to 1.2 meters!
replies(1):
https://www.adafruit.com/product/5503
up to 1.2 meters!
Having channeled led strips with individual pixel control would be fine but much bigger cross-section.