Dan Flavin: A Retrospective at the Hayward Gallery
Just a load of fluorescent tubes - or deep and meaningful art? It's easy to scoff at Dan Flavin's light works, but the Hayward's retrospective looks at the science too.
The exhibition starts outside the gallery – the concrete walkways which surround the Hayward have been marked with electrical circuit diagrams with arrows pointing to the entrance.
The gallery boasts that this is the first comprehensive exhibition of the work of Dan Flavin, who died a decade ago. More than half the 50 works in the show are on display for the first time in the UK.
Many of Flavin's sketches are included, which may help to pursuade sceptics that there is more to his installations than a random arrangement of tubes.
Of particular note is the AfterImage area, a resource space created by leading scientists exploring colour perception, fluorescence and the creation of light. The world's largest Wimshurst machine allows visitors to see sparks fly – literally.
A 'sonic interpretation' of Flavin's light works can be downloaded to your iPod from the Hayward website.
• The exhibition continues at the Hayward Gallery until Sunday 2 April
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