The Art of Time

At Tai Kwun Art Gallery, the latest exhibition titled "On Kawara: The Law of Freedom, The Freedom of Law" is now on display. Every postcard sent, every date painted, every record of a journey—artist On Kawara transforms these everyday actions into profound artistic language that transcends time and space. He systematically documented his own existence, using communication tools of his time such as postcards, telegrams, calendars, and CDs to mark his presence and connect with others long before the digital sharing era we live in today, still provoking deep reflection. "On Kawara: The Law of Freedom, The Freedom of Law" showcases a series of representative works spanning the artist’s half-century creative journey. It is the first major retrospective worldwide curated after the artist’s passing. The famous "Date Paintings" highlight his unique systematic creative method and fundamentally reshape our understanding of time and existence. At the core of On Kawara’s work is the ongoing negotiation between self-imposed creative rules and personal experience. His works elevate everyday records into profound meditations on time, existence, and survival, crossing cultural and geographical boundaries to evoke universal reflections on the human condition. The exhibition focuses on On Kawara’s vision as a global citizen and artistic philosopher, exploring how his works connect the everyday with the metaphysical, simplicity with complexity, the present moment with eternity. His minimalist yet meaningful approach seeks stability amid constant flow, capturing the familiar contradictions of the contemporary globalized world.