“Untitled” by Geordie Barker - Proud Exhibition, August 2008, Margret Laurence Gallery, VCA

The story behind my most recent light sculpture, begins with my second year lighting class at the Victorian College of the Arts. Rachael Bourke, a prominent and award winning Melbourne lighting design was our guest lecturer for a series of 8 classes, replacing our resident lighting lecturer, John Comeadow. Rachael’s most famous work, is the award winning architectural lighting design of the Victorian Arts Centre’s, Hamer Hall. She also has a very long list of stage and other credits to her name.

“Pink out of a corner - To Jasper Johns 1963″ by Dan Flavin

“Untitled (to Paddy)” by Dan Flavin

During our work with Rachel we were guided through what she believed are the main elements of light and lighting design. One of these elements encouraged us to look at artists that used light or lighting to create or make some form of art. The scope was broad and included many photographers and sculpture artists. She presented a series of artists that shaped her work, one of which included Dan Flavin, a light artist who’s work included only commercially available fluroscent lighting fixtures. I was immediately taken by his work due to its ability to make light a beautiful object, and to play with the viewers idea of light, especially fluorescent lighting. From these examples we were encouraged to design a work that took elements from these artists’ designs. My original work is shown below.

Untitled -1, by Geordie Barker  - The Shed, August 2007.

This work was took elements from two of Dan Flavins works, “Pink out of a corner - To Jasper Johns”, and “Untitled (to Paddy)”, both featured above. My fascination for this mans work revolves around his use of such a difficult fixture, and his linear focus. My work as displayed uses two fluorescent tubes, one blue and one white and is similar to one of Flavin’s pieces,  “Untitled, (to Paddy)” which features one 6ft fluro tube with a smaller one strapped to it, leaning against a wall. The reason I chose to alter the location of the tube (into a corner) was due to my belief that this would enhance the texture on the environment around the light source. I chose to use two of the same sized tubes to keep some symmetry.

Flavin’s use of only fluorescent fixtures was unusual, due to the limited control capabilities of these lights. He took a usual, predictable, practical everyday light fixture and played with its parameters. One of these was position, a key component in his work, as shown in every piece he ever made. Other aspects include colour, line, reflection, lighting as object, lighting on object, shape, pattens and space.

I hope to create works in the future that push the boundries of lighting sculpture and make people think twice about normal light fittings. For more of my past work please CLICK HERE!