Dan Flavin (Jamaica, New York, USA, 1933 – Riverhead, New York, USA, 1996) was one of the most remarkable and influential artists of the last century. His creative pursuits sought the near-elimination of any canvas or support, and his first major step toward this simplification resulted in a series of works from the early 1960s known as “Icons”. These “Icons” comprise Masonite supports painted in a single color, onto which Flavin attached incandescent bulbs and fluorescent fixtures.

Flavin’s explorations culminated in what is considered his breakthrough work. Completed in 1963, Diagonal of May 25, 1963 (to Constantin Brâncusi) consists of a single fluorescent lamp installed diagonally on the wall, a tribute to “Endless Column” (1938) by the Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncusi (1876-1957).

Following the creation of Diagonal of May 25, 1963 (to Constantin Brâncusi), Flavin produced a series of installations—or “situations”, as he would refer to them—of light and color that completely redefined their surrounding space. In this manner, architecture assumed a vital role, granting the frequently ignored or discarded corners of exhibit spaces essential value.