Dan Flavin
Dan Flavin was born 1933 in New York and died 1996 in Wainscott, New York. The works of this American artist are composed of light; more specifically, fluorescent bulbs and industrial light fixtures. One of the pioneers of minimalism in the early 60s, Flavin's placement of light varies in relationship to the existing architecture, illuminating architectural spaces while subtly altering the viewer's perception of them. While the shadows and dramatic colors that emanate from the pieces blur the contours of the surrounding space, these works – whether installed directly on the floor or the wall – retain a discrete relationship toward their environment, much like a painting or sculpture. Although the light installations create a highly-charged environment, Flavin did not believe in overinterpretation or mystification: "Quick, available comprehension is intended for participants in my installations. One should not have to pause over art any longer."
Dan Flavin Editions
Unique Works
Untitled (to Robert Ryman)
1996
Untitled (to Jörg Schellmann)
1994
Untitled (to Jörg Schellmann)
1994
Untitled (to Madeline and Eric Kraft)
1992
Untitled (to Mary Elizabeth)
1992
Untitled (Triptych)
1996-1998
From Sequences
Three aquatints printed from two to three plates each on Twinrocker handmade rag paper. Each print 50 x 40 cm (19¾ x 15¾ in). Edition of 60 + X, each print numbered and estate signed by the artist's son, Stephen Flavin.
Since 1961, the artist Dan Flavin used almost exclusively the industrial fluorescent tube as his material; his focus was not on the arrangement of the light sources but on the effects of their complex colored light within an interior space. In his few monochromatic editions on paper, Flavin does not illustrate the fluorescent light itself but rather proposes a translation of color and light into the graphic medium.
Set EUR 3,300
Projects 1963-95
1997
Portfolio of 10 aquatints on rag paper, 3 of them with chine collé, each print 52 x 66 cm (20½ x 26 in). Edition of 36, estate signed and numbered.
Dan Flavin, a key figure of Minimalism, turned away from painting and discovered the medium of light installation. Using everyday materials such as industrially manufactured fluorescent tubes and simple mounting mechanisms, he created works that gained a unique quality through their immateriality. The focus was less on narrative or symbolic meaning and more on the direct effect of light on the space. This edition consists of schematic sketches by Dan Flavin, which served as the conceptual foundation for his later minimalist light works and express the distinctive, reduced aesthetics of his pieces.
Untitled
1994
Suite of three aquatints printed on both sides of handmade Twinrocker paper, each 71 x 20 cm (28 x 7.8 in), rolled, mounted in plexiglass box, 82 x 54 x 23.5 cm (32 x 21½ x 9¼ in). Edition: 15, signed and numbered on inside of tube.
Dan Flavin transfers the characteristic light effects of his neon tubes into another medium by experimenting with handmade rag paper for this edition. Through the dual-sided coloring and deliberate shaping of the paper, subtle interplay of light and shadow is created, along with finely nuanced gradations of color that evoke the reflections and atmospheric effects of his light installations.
Untitled (to Barbara Nüsse)
1971
Blue and pink fliorescent light (60 x 60 x 5 cm). Edition: 50 planned (only 16 made), signed and numbered on a certificate.
This is one of the very few editions ever created by Dan Flavin. The artist typically resisted producing his light works in editions larger than three to five, as these were regarded not as multiples, but as original works within the art world.
Untitled (to Robert Ryman)
1996
From Wall Works
Warm white and daylight fluorescent light, two units 122 x 14 x 7.5 cm (48 x 5½ x 3 in) each; installation size according to the wall. Limited to an edition of 2, with a signed and numbered certificate (5 planned, only 2 made).
The two fluorescent columns of the work Untitled (for Robert Ryman) divide the wall into three light zones: warm - cool - warm.
Untitled (to Jörg Schellmann)
1994
Daylight and warm white fluorescent light, 234 x 61 x 20 cm (92 x 24 x 8 in), edition of 5 (only 3 made), signed and numbered on certificate.
Jörg Schellmann made several attempts to convince Dan Flavin to create a fluorescent light work as an edition, but without success. Flavin refused to produce light works in larger editions than his usual 3 to 5 copies, as these were considered originals in the art world, not editions. When Schellmann realized this, he asked Flavin to create a complete edition of 3 or 5 copies for Schellmann Art – and thus obtained his "edition".
Untitled (to Jörg Schellmann)
1994
Pink and blue fluorescent light, 244 x 61 x 20 cm (96 x 24 x 8 in), edition of 5 (only 3 made), signed and numbered on certificate.
Jörg Schellmann made several attempts to convince Dan Flavin to create a fluorescent light work as an edition, but without success. Flavin refused to produce light works in larger editions than his usual 3 to 5 copies, as these were considered originals in the art world, not editions. When Schellmann realized this, he asked Flavin to create a complete edition of 3 or 5 copies for Schellmann Art – and thus obtained his "edition".
