Dan Flavin's Fluorescent Light Works at Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris

Key facts

• Dan Flavin used only fluorescent light tubes as his medium from 1963 until his death in 1996.
• The retrospective was organized by the Dia Art Foundation and the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
• The exhibition was shown at the Hayward Gallery, London (Jan 19 – Apr 2, 2006), then at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (Jun 9 – Oct 8, 2006), and finally at the Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich (Nov 15, 2006 – Mar 4, 2007).
• Flavin's works use commercially available fluorescent tubes in standard lengths and colors.
• 'Untitled (to the “innovator” of Wheeling Peachblow)' (1966–68) consists of six tubes: two daylight white, two yellow, and two pink, arranged in a quasi-square.
• The piece is installed in a corner, referencing Malevich's 'Black Square' and Tatlin's corner reliefs.
• Flavin dedicated many of his untitled works to individuals, including artists, friends, and gallerists.
• Flavin rejected the label 'minimalist' and refused to be called a sculptor.