Product Description

Japanese-born, New York-based On Kawara is one of the world's best-known Conceptual artists, a major international figure since the 1960s. Kawara's existence is documented solely through his daily art-making practice; best known are his Date Paintings (1965-ongoing), in which he methodically creates a single painting a day, always in the same size and with simply the date written upon it. This book is a chance for his followers to unravel more of the mystery of this cult figure.

A unique feature of this book is the 'Tribute' section, to replace the Interview, which reflects the artist's lifelong commitment never to be personally documented in his own words. A collection of short statements by thirty individuals selected by Kawara - among them artists Lawrence Weiner and Dan Graham and cultural theorist Homi Bhabha - create an indirect 'portrait of the artist'. In his Survey, curator Jonathan Watkins examines the artist's long career, from his early figurative painting in the 1950s, to his later, text-based Conceptual art. Curator RenÈ Denizot analyses in his Focus a two-person exhibition combining Kawara's work with Alberto Giacometti's, revealing both artists' shared concern for the essence of human existence. The artist's interest in consciousness is reflected in a scientific essay he has selected for his Artist's Choice from the academic Journal of Consciousness Studies. In the Artist's Writings a series of handwritten love letters in an indecipherable code reflect the mix of the impersonal and the deeply humanistic that runs through his art.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1044499 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

About the Author
Jonathan Watkins (Survey) is Director of the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham. Previously Artistic Director of the 11th Sydney Biennale, when based in London was Curator at the Serpentine Gallery (1995-1997) and Director of Chisenhale Gallery (1990-1995). He was guest curator for the recent exhibition of contemporary Japanese art at the Hayward Gallery, London (Autumn 2001). 'Tribute' (to replace Interview) - An essential part of this Conceptual artist's practice is never to leave any personal traces of his life; therefore, On Kawara has he never given an Interview. To replace the series' Interview section, about thirty key figures from the artist's life, among them fellow conceptualists Lawrence Weiner and Dan Graham, cultural theorist Homi Bhabha, and curator Kasper Koenig, have written short statements on their thoughts and experiences with Kawara, collectively forming an indirect 'portrait of the artist'. Rene Denizot (Focus), is a critic and philosopher who has written particularly on Conceptual art and contemporary sculpture. He has been a friend and follower of On Kawara's work for well over a decade. For his Artist's Choice On Kawara has selected an extract from an obscure, highly specialized scientific study into the nature of consciousness, titled 'Conscious Events as Orchesatrated Space-Time Selections' (1996), by Stuart Hameroff and Roger Penrose. Again, as part of his lifelong practice never to document his own life, On Kawara does not write anything. For the Artist's Writings On Kawara is presenting a series of handwritten love letters, extracted from a standard book on letter-writing etiquette, rendered indecipherable by the artist's use of a mysterious colour-coding which replaces the words.