On Kawara

On Kawara is regarded as one of the most significant and radical modern artists of our time. His work is deeply preoccupied with the concepts of time and place, which he employed to explore and map the meaning of human existence.

Biography of On Kawara

On Kawara, born in Kariya, Japan, in 1932, moved to Tokyo after graduating from high school. In 1959, he took advantage of his father's new position in Mexico to travel there and spend three years immersing himself in the country's culture and studying art.

After moving from Mexico City to New York in 1962, Kawara spent eight months there before traveling to Paris. As part of a generation of Conceptual artists that emerged in the mid-1960s, he produced approximately two hundred Paris-New York Drawings between 1962 and 1964. These works featured motifs like stripes and grids, reflecting the influence of the Minimalist painter Agnes Martin.

Kawara's work has been featured in prestigious museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art and Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Museum Boymans-van Beuningen in Rotterdam, and many more. He has also participated in renowned international art events.

The artist passed away in 2014.

On Kawara's Famous Works

One of Kawara's most celebrated works, "One Million Years" (1969), explores the concepts of time's passage and its measurement. This series, consisting of twenty-four pieces, includes "One Million Years [Past]" dedicated to those who have lived and died, and "One Million Years [Future]" dedicated to the last person. Often performed, these works involve pairs of performers simultaneously reciting dates from each list.

Other notable pieces include "Thanatophanies" (1955-1956), "I GOT UP AT 9:12 A.M." (1978), "I am still alive" (1978), "I Met (from Trilogy "I Got Up, I Went, and I" (2004), and many more. 

On Kawara's Art Style

Kawara's art is defined by elements of repetition, consistency, and systematic processes. His work often challenges conventional notions of artistic expression and aesthetics, emphasizing conceptual ideas over visual appeal. Utilizing various mediums such as painting, text, and performance, Kawara's art is intellectually rigorous, minimalistic, and profoundly contemplative.