On Kawara

On Kawara (1932-2014) was a Japanese conceptual artist who remains one of the most enigmatic figures in modern art. 

Biography of On Kawara

On Kawara was born in Kariya, Japan, on December 24, 1932. After completing his education at Kariya High School in 1951, he moved to Tokyo. In 1959, when his father assumed a position as director of an engineering company in Mexico, seizing the chance, Kawara ventured to Mexico and stayed there for three years, attending art school and exploring the country. 

In 1962, Kawara moved from Mexico City to New York, where he remained for eight months before traveling to Paris.

Kawara was part of a generation of Conceptual artists that emerged during the mid-1960s, representing a diverse international collective. From 1962 to 1964, he produced about two hundred Paris-New York Drawings. Within these works, he explored various motifs, including stripes and grids reminiscent of the Minimalist painter Agnes Martin.

From January 4, 1966, Kawara made a long series known as the "Date Paintings" (the Today series). Notably, the date was always documented using the language and grammatical norms specific to the country where each painting was created.

One of the artist's best-known works, "One Million Years" (1969), delves into the themes of the passage and marking of time. The series of twenty-four works encompasses "One Million Years [Past]," dedicated to "all those who have lived and died," and "One Million Years [Future]," directed towards "the last one." It is often performed, featuring pairs of performers, typically one male and one female for each segment, engaging in a simultaneous recitation of dates from each list, giving life to "One Million Years [Past]" and "One Million Years [Future]."

In 1993, the first audio presentation of the reading of "One Million Years" took place during Kawara's yearlong solo exhibition titled "One Thousand Days One Million Years" at the Dia Center for the Arts in New York.

Kawara's work has been exhibited in numerous museums around the world, 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 the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. He also had a notable presence at the Tokyo Biennale (1970), the Kyoto Biennale (1976), and the Venice Biennale (1976). On Kawara is widely regarded as one of the most important artists of the 20th century.

On Kawara passed away on July 10, 2014, leaving behind a rich artistic legacy and a profound influence on contemporary art.

On Kawara's art style

Kawara's art style incorporates elements of repetition, consistency, and systematic processes. His works often challenge traditional notions of artistic expression and aesthetics by focusing on conceptual concepts rather than visual aesthetics.

The artist employed a range of mediums, including painting, text, and performance. His art can be characterized as intellectually rigorous, minimalistic, and deeply contemplative, inviting viewers to question their relationship with time, memory, and the significance of individual existence.