The Fine Art & Collectibles Sale
Lot 170:
Description
Signed (verso)
Image Dimensions: 13 3/8 x 17 3/8 in (34 x 44 cm)
This lot is accompanied by a consignor-provided COA or related documentation, offered as received.
This work belongs to On Kawara’s seminal "Today" series, a body of work that stands as one of the most rigorous and conceptually influential projects in postwar art. By 1988, Kawara had been producing date paintings continuously for over two decades, transforming the simple act of marking time into a profound meditation on existence, presence, and mortality. Each painting asserts the fact of a single day, neither commemorating events nor offering narrative, but affirming the artist’s presence in time.
Painted on August 8, 1988, in New York City, this canvas adheres strictly to the self-imposed rules of the series. The date is rendered in crisp white lettering against a deep black ground, executed with absolute precision. The typography, language format, and composition are determined by the location and moment of execution, underscoring Kawara’s commitment to objectivity and consistency. Any deviation from completion within the day would have required the destruction of the work, reinforcing the discipline embedded in its creation.
The surface is smooth and restrained, devoid of expressive gesture. Liquitex acrylic allows for a matte, uniform field that eliminates distraction and focuses attention entirely on the date itself. The painting functions simultaneously as a visual object and as a temporal marker, collapsing the distance between art and lived experience. The absence of imagery or symbolism directs the viewer toward contemplation rather than interpretation.
Works from the "Today" series are held in major museum collections worldwide and are widely regarded as cornerstones of Conceptual art. On the market, examples from the late 1980s are especially sought after, as they represent a mature phase in which the series was fully established both intellectually and institutionally. Their value lies not in variation, but in unwavering consistency and historical importance.
From an art-historical perspective, this painting exemplifies Kawara’s radical redefinition of what constitutes subject matter in art. By reducing content to the notation of time itself, he positioned duration and existence as primary artistic concerns. Scholars frequently cite the "Today" series as a foundational reference for later conceptual practices concerned with time, repetition, and the limits of authorship.
In spatial terms, the work possesses a quiet but commanding presence. Its stark contrast and typographic clarity allow it to resonate in both minimalist interiors and institutional contexts. The painting invites prolonged contemplation, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own relationship to time and the fleeting nature of the present.
Ultimately, this work stands as a precise and uncompromising statement within On Kawara’s oeuvre. It affirms the power of restraint, repetition, and factuality, securing its place as a defining example of late twentieth-century Conceptual art.
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