On Kawara: Rules of Freedom, Freedom of Rules
Every postcard sent, every date painted, every journey mapped鈥擮n Kawara transformed these daily acts into a profound artistic language that speaks across time. His systematic documentation of existence, begun long before our era of digital sharing, uses the tools of his time鈥攑ostcards, telegrams, calendars, and CDs鈥攖o mark his presence and connect with others in ways that remain startlingly relevant today.
On Kawara: Rules of Freedom, Freedom of Rules presents the artist's most iconic series, spanning five decades of work and marking the first institutional solo presentation of his work in the world conceived since his passing 10 years ago. Through distinct systematic approaches epitomised by his renowned Date Paintings, these works fundamentally reshape our understanding of time and existence.
At the heart of Kawara's practice lies a constant negotiation between self-imposed creative rules and lived experience. His work transforms everyday documentation into profound meditations on time, presence, and existence, transcending cultural and geographical boundaries to offer universal reflections on the human condition.
The exhibition examines Kawara as both global citizen and artist-philosopher, exploring how his work bridges the everyday and the metaphysical, simplicity and complexity, the present and the eternal. His minimal yet meaning-rich practice captures a paradox familiar in today's globalised world: finding stability within perpetual movement.
The works in this exhibition are on loan from various private collectors and museums around the world. Tai Kwun Contemporary extends its sincere gratitude to all the lenders and in particular the One Million Years Foundation, which made this exhibition possible.
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Every postcard sent, every date painted, every journey mapped鈥擮n Kawara transformed these daily acts into a profound artistic language that speaks across time. His systematic documentation of existence, begun long before our era of digital sharing, uses the tools of his time鈥攑ostcards, telegrams, calendars, and CDs鈥攖o mark his presence and connect with others in ways that remain startlingly relevant today.
On Kawara: Rules of Freedom, Freedom of Rules presents the artist's most iconic series, spanning five decades of work and marking the first institutional solo presentation of his work in the world conceived since his passing 10 years ago. Through distinct systematic approaches epitomised by his renowned Date Paintings, these works fundamentally reshape our understanding of time and existence.
At the heart of Kawara's practice lies a constant negotiation between self-imposed creative rules and lived experience. His work transforms everyday documentation into profound meditations on time, presence, and existence, transcending cultural and geographical boundaries to offer universal reflections on the human condition.
The exhibition examines Kawara as both global citizen and artist-philosopher, exploring how his work bridges the everyday and the metaphysical, simplicity and complexity, the present and the eternal. His minimal yet meaning-rich practice captures a paradox familiar in today's globalised world: finding stability within perpetual movement.
The works in this exhibition are on loan from various private collectors and museums around the world. Tai Kwun Contemporary extends its sincere gratitude to all the lenders and in particular the One Million Years Foundation, which made this exhibition possible.
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Every postcard sent, every date painted, every journey mapped: On Kawara transformed these seemingly banal daily acts into a conceptually profound artistic language that speaks across time.
Tai Kwun Contemporary is proud to present the work of pioneering conceptual artist On Kawara, in the first major retrospective in the world conceived after his passing in 2014.
