There is a light and it rarely goes out

Dan Flavin's Flourescence lights up the Ikon Gallery

by Lee Paul,
first published: June, 2016

Don't try this at home

Dan Flavin
It is what it is and it ain't nothing else
Ikon Gallery,
Birmingham, UK
Until June 26th
Free to get in. You'll want to donate on the way out.

You know how much we love Art Superstars and You'll know this is not the first time we've encountered the wilfully abstract expressionism of Dan Flavin - one of the giants of 50s/60s American art blow up years. Oh no. We go way back with Dan. At least as far as here and even back to here. We're big fans of self reference to push up those page views and we are even bigger fans of Dan Flavin.

Dan Flavin's It is what it is and it ain't nothing else is currently all over the Birmingham (UK) Ikon Gallery, taking over two gallery floors, and is not a sight for sore eyes, it is a sight to behold. That it's not a sight for sore eyes, this much I know because I'd invited my friend Warren the Shoemaker and he worried that Flavin's gaudy fluorescence might push his hangover over the edge. "No one wants to see that," said Warren the Shoe.

It's quiet in there. I'm always anticipating the low level hum of cheap fittings and tubes and the flickering of crappy starter motors. That it's quiet in there didn't prevent us occasionally breaking into dances of joy. And then the static tubes came to life too. Dancing with us. Such 60s futurism, a regular 70s disco. It's not all about the light fittings fastened to the wall, stupid. As Bill Clinton said. It's about how the light dances around the room. And it moves and it is gone.

I mentioned to Mr. Lake that the Dan Flavin was in town... "Last time I saw Dan," Mr. Lake said, "It was like the last day of a closing down sale in the lighting department at Home Depot." Maybe so. Maybe it's because Dan Flavin makes leaning fluorescent tubes against a wall look so, so like... Like why didn't I think of that? easy. But just because Dan Flavin makes it look easy doesn't mean you should try it at home.

More Info: Ikon website

Lee Paul

I like to look at things while listening to things I am not looking at. But doesn't everyone.
about Lee Paul »»

Don't try this at home

The Totally Random Read →

AVAILABLE NOW: MUSEUMGOER 21

MUSEUMGOER 21. It might be the ultimate Museumgoer recording. Listen on Bandcamp.

the weekly guide to new releases

see it here every week →

10 clickable things

☉ What can elephants, birds, and flamenco players teach a neuroscientist-composer about music? ☉ BOYCOTT University Challenge ☉ Bruce's Beach. Reparations really, or what? (NYT) ☉ Drag Shows are banned ☉ QPR: Promotion push to relegation fight, 474,000 a week losses and a rescue mission ☉ How to talk like a Chelsea coach ☉ De La Soul Streaming at Last (Gothamist) ☉ Why 1997 Changed Everything (NYT) ☉ Robert Forster: why Venus by Television is the most perfect song of all time (Guardian) ☉ Magentaverse ☉

RECENT STORIES

False Lankum by Lankum

Lankum's fourth album is full of strange delights.

Forty Years On: Dazzle Ships

Bedazzled: Jay celebrates OMD's finest album

In a league of their own - the beginnings of British Electric Foundation

Music for Stowaways: How BEF became your BFF

A Matter of Life and Death

'Momento Mori' is Depeche Mode's best record in a very long time.

Big Dog Training

A new poem by Wayne Dean-Richards

Storied Walnuts

The Story of Chantal Pitts' Outsideleft Short Story Competition Trophies

A Soundtrack for Stanford

Jay Lewis marvels at Senestra's compelling debut

Track by Track: IF... by David Heatley

Queens, NY singer-songwriter David Heatley talks us through his new LP, IF... track by track

Is It All About Feeding Bono's Ego At This Point

When does U2 realize that the best thing for it is a calm, dignified hiatus?

Glenn Hardy Jr.: A Portrait of an American

Outsideleft Arts & Design Editor Chantal talks to a rising star of American painting, Glenn Hardy Jr.

Adventures in the archives

MUSIC
CULTURE
LIT
SCREENS
PRODUCT
SSH

RANDOM READS

Britpop '23 - The Return Of The End Of Irony

Tim London says the britpoppers stabbed to death Britain's most important cultural and artistic invention of the 20th century (no, not James Bond). And pushed the least tasty bits into a sausage machine.
January 2023

Jon Bard's Five Great Soul Records You've Most Likely Never Heard Of...

February 2005

How Vital Was Orange County's Contribution To The Third Wave Of Ska?

Alarcon recalls peak OC Ska...
December 2019

Up on the F*cking Block with Xiu Xiu

Jamie Stewart's Xiu Xiu is like what would happen if Henry Miller and OMD were blown up and reassembled as one horny beast.
February 2008

Matmos and the Warm Glow of Technology

Matmos incubated their latest album Supreme Balloon in the warm glow of technology, just to see where it goes when it flies.
May 2008

The Deadline is May 31st, 2022

The deadline for our short story competition is May 31st. Come on hurry up or you will miss it
May 2022

All About and Contributors

HELP OUTSIDELEFT

Outsideleft exists on a precarious no budget budget. We are interested in hearing from deep and deeper pocket types willing to underwrite our cultural vulture activity. We're not so interested in plastering your product all over our stories, but something more subtle and dignified for all parties concerned. Contact us and let's talk. [HELP OUTSIDELEFT]

WRITE FOR OUTSIDELEFT

If Outsideleft had arms they would always be wide open and welcoming to new writers and new ideas. If you've got something to say, something a small dank corner of the world needs to know about, a poem to publish, a book review, a short story, if you love music or the arts or anything else, write something about it and send it along. Of course we don't have anything as conformist as a budget here. But we'd love to see what you can do. Write for Outsideleft, do. [SUBMISSIONS FORM HERE]

WRITERS thru' the Years

Alan Devey, Alan Rider, Alex V. Cook, Ancient Champion, Andy Allison, Annemiek, Belle Plankton, Bruce Bailey, Caiomhin Millar, Chantal, Cheiron Coelho, Chris Connolly, Christian Present, Damon Hayhurst, Dan Breen, David Hackney, Denni Boyd, Dirty Lillie, DJ Fuzzyfelt, Dr. Richard Bennett, Duncan Jones, Erin, Erin Pipes, Erin Scott, Gracey Babs, Graham Baker, Guilaine Arts, H.xx, Hamilton High, Henderson Downing, Holly Martins, J. Charreaux, Jay Lewis, Jaycentee, Jennifer Lynn, Jenny McCann, Jeremy Gluck, Jez Collins, Joe Ambrose, John Robinson, Julie O, Karl Morgan, Katherine Pargeter, Kelsey Osgood, Kevin McHugh, Lake, Lee Paul, Luke Skinner, Malcolm, Marek Pytel, Mark Piggott, Meave Haughey, Michelle Williams, mindy strouse, Neil Campbell, Neil Scott, Ogglypoogly, OL House Writer, Pam, Paul Hawkins, Paul Quigley, Peter Williams, Pixie McMowat, Pixievic, Rene Williams, Rick Casson, Ronan Crinion, Ruby Lake, Ryan 'RJO' Stewart, Samantha Charles, Seth Sherwood, Shane O'Reilly, Sheridan Coyle, Sofia Ribeiro Willcox, Sophia Satchell-Baeza, Spanish Pantalones, Speedie John, Spencer Kansa, Steve McCarthy, The Conversation, Tim London, Tim Sparks, Toon Traveller, Wayne Dean-Richards, and founders, Alarcon & Lamontpaul