Dan Flavin at MCA

Dan Flavin: a retrospective is on display at the MCA in Chicago. 

I normally might see images of Flavin's fluorescent light installations in magazines and just skim past the pages.  Now after seeing his work in person I have changed my mind completely.  Some may say..."oh, it is just colored fluorescent light...I could do that!"  I love it when the average person thinks that they can reproduce or make better art than the exhibiting artist.  First of all, are they? No. And if you think putting up some fluorescent lights constitutes as Mr. Flavin's work then you are wrong. 
 

Flavin's work couldn't have been placed better in the museum. The colored installations allowed plenty of breathing room in between pieces.  The lighting really changed the feel of each room.  One room was walled into segments that allowed the light from neighboring pieces to shine through the cracks.  After looking into a bright yellow room I walked down a white hall that then appeared to be shades of violet because of the effect of the yellow lights.  (when you stare into a solid color and then stare at a white wall you see the complimentary color)





This piece is an example how hidden back lighting added depth to the crossed beams of lights.   

There were also a few back rooms that had all of Flavin's sketches and prints of his light installations.  The drawings in themselves were quite interesting.  I love a nice geometric drawing on graph paper and art blue-prints!  This drawing was a sketch for the 3rd image posted.





There was also a couple rooms of just white bright light.  The cool-toned, white lights gave the room a strange timeless effect that made the lights seem like religious totems.