Kunstmuseum Basel Presents a Landmark Dan Flavin Exhibition
During Art Basel, the Kunstmuseum Basel presented a major exhibition dedicated to Dan Flavin (1933–1996), one of the most influential figures of Minimal Art. Known for his pioneering use of industrial fluorescent light, Flavin reshaped the language of contemporary art and redefined how we experience space.
The exhibition sheds light on a less familiar dimension of his practice: works dedicated to fellow artists and pieces referencing pivotal historical events.
In 1963, Flavin placed a single fluorescent tube diagonally across his studio wall and declared it art. This simple yet radical act captured the essence of Minimal Art—reduction, repetition, and clarity. Though largely self-taught and unaffiliated with any formal movement, Flavin soon emerged as one of its most powerful voices.
Over the decades, he developed immersive light installations he termed “situations.” Using only standardized commercial tubes, he transformed entire rooms into radiant environments. Visitors stepping into these spaces are enveloped by shifting fields of color, producing both sensory intensity and an almost meditative experience.
Beyond their luminous beauty, Flavin’s works resonate with layers of meaning. Many carry titles that reference violence, war, or social injustice, while others are dedicated to artists he admired. At Kunstmuseum Basel, these aspects take center stage, including the monumental untitled (in memory of Urs Graf), which floods the museum’s Hauptbau courtyard with glowing light each evening.
Through a focused selection of seminal works and series, this exhibition invites audiences to rediscover Flavin not only as a master of minimal form, but also as an artist deeply engaged with narrative, homage, and social consciousness.