While influenced by his Catholic upbringing, Flavin always rejected interpretations of his work as spiritual. Rather, he preferred to assert the ordinariness of light in his work. Many of his works refer to significant figures of 20th-century art. This sculpture is a homage to Russian artist Vladimir Tatlin (1885–1953). Flavin described it as a ‘monument’ partly as a joke, aware of the disparity between its modest materials and the traditional grandeur of monumental sculpture.
Michael Govan, the CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, discusses the experience of working with Dan Flavin in this video via Bridge Projects' YouTube channel.
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Collection
Not in ACMI's collection
Previously on display
13 November 2022
ACMI: Gallery 4
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
LN189741
Curatorial section
Light → Expanded Light
Measurements
3054 x 584 x 89 mm
Object Types
3D Object
Installation
Materials
Fluorescent tubes and metal