On Saturday 16 August 2014, Gracefield will open a new exhibition as part of the national programme ARTIST ROOMS. Gracefield Art Centre in Dumfries is the first ARTIST ROOMS Associate venue in the UK to present works by American artist Dan Flavin (1933-1996). The installations will transform the Gracefield gallery spaces with white light and colour and offer audiences a unique chance to engage with this challenging and fascinating body of work.
The exhibition will include ‘untitled (to Don Judd, colorist) 1-5, 1987’ and a group of four ‘monument’ to V. Tatlin sculptures, Flavin’s extensive series of ‘monuments’ dedicated to the Russian constructivist artist Vladimir Tatlin. Flavin’s fluorescent light sculptures grew out of the traditions of post–war American art. The movement to which Flavin’s art is often associated is minimalism, although Flavin always rejected this label. Flavin’s work is closely concerned with the space in which it is shown.
Dan Flavin (1933–1996) was born in New York City. He lived and worked in New York City and Long Island, NY. Since his breakthrough work in 1963, Flavin dedicated his sculptures to other artists, philosophers, collectors, and dealers. He greatly admired early Russian avant-garde art, particularly the work of Tatlin, who he described as ‘the great revolutionary, who dreamed of art as science.’ In 1964 he embarked on a series of tower-shaped sculptures dedicated to Tatlin. Flavin continued to produce these ‘monuments’ until 1990.
The works on display are taken from ARTIST ROOMS, an inspirational collection of modern and contemporary art acquired for the nation by Tate and The National Galleries of Scotland through the generosity of Anthony d’Offay with additional support from funders, including the Art Fund. The ARTIST ROOMS tour programme, now in its sixth year, is showing at 18 museums and galleries across the UK in 2014. The tour is made possible thanks to the support of Arts Council England, the Art Fund, and in Scotland, Creative Scotland.
Working with an artist facilitator, Gracefield will be offering curatorial tours and arts activities for young people looking at Dan Flavin’s work by exploring new technology. Participants will also be able to get involved in developing and organising events during the exhibition – by and for young people. For more information contact Kate Davies, [email protected] or Joanne Smithers, [email protected]
To find out more information about ARTIST ROOMS On Tour please visit www.artfund.org/artistrooms. To see the full ARTIST ROOMS collection please visit www.tate.org.uk/artistrooms and www.nationalgalleries.org/artistrooms
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