Tai Kwun Contemporary to unveil On Kawara’s first major exhibition since his passing

Tai Kwun Contemporary will present Japanese conceptual artist On Kawara’s first major institutional exhibition in the world, conceived since his passing a decade ago, opening Friday (May 23).

Titled “On Kawara: Rules of Freedom, Freedom of Rules,” the exhibition will present the artist's iconic “Date Paintings,” a serial work beginning in 1966, alongside other notable works utilizing the tools of his time, such as postcards and telegrams.

The exhibition will also feature a special room dedicated to Kawara's visit to Hong Kong in 1978, emphasizing the artist's deep connection to the Asia-Pacific region.

Throughout his time in the city, Kawara continued his rigorous daily rituals, creating Date Paintings while meticulously documenting his movements through ongoing series, including “I Met, I Went, I Got Up, and I Am Still Alive.”

Meanwhile, live performances of “One Million Years” will also unfold daily on the site, keeping the exhibition permanently alive. 

Born in 1932 in Kariya, Japan, Kawara is known for his systematic documentation of existence, transforming daily acts into a profound artistic language that speaks across time.

The pivotal figure in the conceptual art movement emerged as an influential member of the postwar avant-garde after moving to Tokyo in 1951. 

His artistic journey took a decisive turn with his departure from Japan in 1959, leading him first to Mexico City, where he studied modern art and traveled around the country—a period that proved foundational to his later practice.

After a period between Paris and New York, he settled in the latter while maintaining a nomadic practice that would span the globe.