Fundación Proa | Dan Flavin

Although not always grouped within this classification, Dan Flavin is considered one of the founders of American Minimalist Art.
Flavin has been one of the first artists to pose a game, or concert - as the artist calls it - between the space that houses his works and the point or line of light. This game consists in the interrelationship among the following elements: space, natural light, electrical light and the changes brought about in "the look". Each of these components actively modifies the work in the course of time. His latest works approach him to Tatlin and Malevich, from whom he takes the use of corners and spots in order to house his works as well as his Constructivist arrangements. From this architectonic perspective, and against the artist's handicraft, - the materials used are industrial and made by technicians - he modifies the environment, based on the knowledge of the retinal possibilities of the human eye. Thus, each work introduces a new spatial reality as well as a new reality of the walls "painted with light".
The exhibition being shown at present, which introduces Dan Flavin's works for the first time in Argentina, is organized together with the Dia Center for the Arts, New York, which currently has the rights for the artist's patrimony.
The exhibition consists in a set of works made during the '63 and '80, built with fluorescent tubes. The director of the Dia Center, Michael Govan, in charge of the exhibition, is currently one of the most outstanding experts in the Flavin's work.
"Monuments for Vladimir Tatlin" is showed. These sculptures made of white fluorescent tubes are assembled so that they compose symmetric structures.
The dialog between natural and artificial light is attempted to show in this space.
"European Couples" is exhibited: coloured squares set face to face, the historical Diagonal of May 25th, the first of Flavin's works done with fluorescent light, as an homage to Matisse.
This exhibition was conceived and carried out together with the Dia Center for the Arts, coordinated by Arturo Carvajal. The Siat and Siderca Corporation, companies belonging to the Techint Organization, sponsor this exhibition.

	Dan Flavin 1933-96
	Dan Flavin es considerado uno de los artistas fundadores del arte minimalista norteamericano, si bien no compartió esta clasificación a lo largo de su vida. Flavin es uno de los primeros artistas en plantear en sus obras un juego, o concierto -como él lo llama- entre el espacio que las aloja y el punto o línea de luz. Este juego consiste en la interrelación entre espacio, luz natural, luz eléctrica y los cambios que se producen en "la mirada". Cada uno de estos participantes modifican activamente la obra en el tiempo. Sus antecedentes más cercanos lo acercan a Tatlin y a Malevich, de donde toma el uso de las esquinas y rincones para alojar sus obras, y sus planteos constructivistas. Desde este lugar de la arquitectura y en contra de la artesanía del artista -ya que utiliza materiales industriales y son realizadas por técnicos-, modifica el entorno conociendo las posibilidades retinianas de la visión. Es así que cada obra presenta una nueva realidad del espacio y de las paredes que "pinta con luz". La actual exposición, que presenta por primera vez en la Argentina las obras de Dan Flavin, está organizada conjuntamente con el Dia Center for the Arts de New York, que en la actualidad tiene en su poder la tutela del patrimonio del artista. La exhibición está compuesta por un conjunto de obras realizadas entre los años 63 y 80, construidas con tubos fluorescentes. Michael Govan, director del Dia y curador de la exhibición, es uno de los más destacados conocedores de la obra de Flavin en la actualidad. Se presentan el conjunto que corresponden a la famosa serie de "Monumentos para Vladimir Tatlin". Estas esculturas de fluorescentes blancos están ensambladas componiendo estructuras simétricas. En este espacio se intenta presentar el diálogo entre la luz natural y la luz artificial. Se exhiben las "European Couples", cuadrados de colores enfrentados, la histórica Diagonal del 25 de mayo, la primera obra realizada con luz fluorescente por Flavin, y el homenaje a Matisse.El rojo de la sala de intenso dramatismo está creado por la obra "Monumento 4 (para el guerrero muerto en combate) Está exhibición fue concebida y realizada conjuntamente con la Dia center for the Arts, coordinada por Arturo Carvajal y cuenta con el auspicio de las empresas Siat, Siderca y Siderca Corporation, empresas de la Organización Techint.	Although not always grouped within this classification, Dan Flavin is considered one of the founders of American Minimalist Art. Flavin has been one of the first artists to pose a game, or concert - as the artist calls it - between the space that houses his works and the point or line of light. This game consists in the interrelationship among the following elements: space, natural light, electrical light and the changes brought about in "the look". Each of these components actively modifies the work in the course of time. His latest works approach him to Tatlin and Malevich, from whom he takes the use of corners and spots in order to house his works as well as his Constructivist arrangements. From this architectonic perspective, and against the artist's handicraft, - the materials used are industrial and made by technicians - he modifies the environment, based on the knowledge of the retinal possibilities of the human eye. Thus, each work introduces a new spatial reality as well as a new reality of the walls "painted with light". The exhibition being shown at present, which introduces Dan Flavin's works for the first time in Argentina, is organized together with the Dia Center for the Arts, New York, which currently has the rights for the artist's patrimony. The exhibition consists in a set of works made during the '63 and '80, built with fluorescent tubes. The director of the Dia Center, Michael Govan, in charge of the exhibition, is currently one of the most outstanding experts in the Flavin's work. "Monuments for Vladimir Tatlin" is showed. These sculptures made of white fluorescent tubes are assembled so that they compose symmetric structures. The dialog between natural and artificial light is attempted to show in this space. "European Couples" is exhibited: coloured squares set face to face, the historical Diagonal of May 25th, the first of Flavin's works done with fluorescent light, as an homage to Matisse. This exhibition was conceived and carried out together with the Dia Center for the Arts, coordinated by Arturo Carvajal. The Siat and Siderca Corporation, companies belonging to the Techint Organization, sponsor this exhibition.

Dan Flavin 1933-96