”Monument” 1 for V. Tatlin 1964

Dan Flavin made ”Monument” 1 for V. Tatlin using fluorescent light. The artwork has been assembled with cool calculation. I can imagine Flavin working in his studio, thinking about Tatlin's unrealized tower, a utopian dream of constructivism. I suppose that the idea of utilitarian light reimagined as an art material would probably appeal to him. The cool white light casts shadows and transforms the surrounding space. The tubes arranged in tiers evoke architectural forms, maybe skyscrapers, but they're also somehow like minimalist sculptures. Flavin's work reminds me of Donald Judd, but with light instead of steel. Both were interested in the qualities of industrial materials and how they could be used to create new kinds of art. Like a chord struck on a piano, the light hums and vibrates, illuminating the path for future artists.