Lighting Up The Art Market

An exhibition consisting almost entirely of fluorescent light tubes is sending viewers scurrying home to see if the light fittings in their bathrooms could be passed for six-figure artworks. At the Haunch of Venison gallery off Bond Street, light sculptures by American minimalist artist Dan Flavin are priced between 130,000 and 600,000 pounds, and most have been sold. But how long will they last? When the parts wear out, they can be replaced, says the gallery. What's important is that there is a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist. However, Flavin, who died in 1996, rejected the idea of permanence. He said the works were destined to become "rust and broken glass. I did my certificates on pulp paper because I knew they would disintegrate." For the full story - click the title Irish Art