On Kawara: Journals: 1966–1970 [9781644231913]

Overview

On Kawara: Journals, 1966–1970 presents complete facsimiles of the first five journals that the artist made alongside his renowned Today series, offering an unprecedented view into the method and complexity behind the artist’s Date Paintings.

On Kawara began his signature Today series—also known as the Date Paintings—in 1966. Through a disciplined and structured approach, Kawara transformed the ordinary fact of a date into a profound message, addressing not only the passage of time but the nature of consciousness itself. The artist meticulously documented the full series in corresponding Journals assembled at the close of each year, the first five of which are reproduced for the first time as full facsimiles in On Kawara: Journals, 1966–1970.

The artist’s Journals function as both an archive of and a companion to the Date Paintings. They document the color and format of each painting, log corresponding subtitles, and include photography that Kawara chose to represent that year’s production. They reveal the daily decisions and systems that shaped the series from its inception. Together, the Journals provide singular insight into one of the most influential bodies of work in conceptual art.

Published on the occasion of a 2027 exhibition at David Zwirner, New York, On Kawara: Journals, 1966–1970 includes an introduction by Anne Wheeler, from the artist’s One Million Years Foundation, which situates the Journals within the broader significance of the Today series. This publication reveals a rarely seen dimension of this acclaimed body of work, foregrounding the artist’s intricate and exacting process.

The book, On Kawara: Journals: 1966–1970 [Bulk, Wholesale, Quantity] ISBN#9781644231913 in Hardcover by On Kawara may be ordered in bulk quantities. Minimum starts at 25 copies. Availability based on publisher status and quantity being ordered.