APR. 8, 1978
1978
Series, 44 x 33cm.
Materials: liquitex on canvas, newspaper clippings
In the exhibition Sanguine/Bloedrood, On Kawara is introduced with his date paintings, which denote a minimalist time unit yet at the same time contain a memorial element that ends in a concentric point. In the light of his early series of death portraits, the paintings that were to serve as proof of his existence seem like a daily countdown to the end as well. With the Death Masks, On Kawara already looked death in the eye at a young age. Later – with the United States as his home base – the horrible images from his childhood seem to have prompted him to spread the message ‘I am still alive’ every day, as a sign of life force.
Text: Hans Willemse
Translations: Michael Meert
