“Icon V (Coran’s Broadway Flesh)” is a minimalist installation artwork created by Dan Flavin in 1962. This piece exemplifies the minimalist art movement through its use of simple geometric forms and industrial materials. The artwork is a departure from traditional art expressions, focusing instead on the purity of form and the interaction of light and space.
The artwork features a square central panel, painted in a soft, flesh-like tone, mounted on a wall. Around this central panel, a frame of small electric light bulbs is evenly spaced, emitting a soft, consistent glow. The light bulbs are arranged in a rectilinear fashion, reinforcing the geometric rigidity and symmetry characteristic of minimalist aesthetics. The bulbs’ soft illumination highlights the texture and color of the central panel, emphasizing the interplay between artificial light and painted surface. The stark contrast between the smooth panel and the industrial light fixtures invites contemplation on the synthesis of art and technology. This installation effectively embodies Flavin’s exploration of light as a medium and the minimalist conception of form and space.
