This is the first journal written by New York based About Art Guest Contributor Gracie Newman
As New York City braced for yet another cold front, I found myself walking into Dan Flavin’s latest exhibition at David Zwirner. The show features nine glowing grids situated in various corners, each constructed from bars of colorful fluorescent lights. I was immediately entranced by their electric warmth and the seductive pools of color they create. The gallery space is infused with a sense of order and optimism; at a time when the news cycle seems chaotic and grim, Flavin’s bright, organized grids offer a vibrant reprieve. The neon hues cast on the walls and floor create an infinite chromatic illusion. Meanwhile, the linear structure calls to mind the different grids that underlie our lives: garden lattices and city streets, sewer grates and bingo sheets.
Walking through the grids, I thought about how the familiar patterns of our lives are what give them shape and color. This sentiment is also reflected by Flavin’s intentional use of readymade commercial materials. In his work, a rigid utilitarian structure becomes a source of illumination and depth. It's a good reminder that order can generate radiance, and that what might seem like strictures or barriers can allow us to see our everyday environment in a new light.
