Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by On Kawara in 1973.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.

Artwork

Untitled

On Kawara , 1973

Untitled is a drawing by On Kawara. It dates from 1973 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1973, this work consists of four telegrams that have been altered with ballpoint pen.

About this work

The top shows time stamps and codes, while the bottom half has handwritten text in messy script: *"i am still alive"* and an address in Japan.

This is a faded yellow form with black ink. It’s a telegram sent by Deutsche Bundespost, dated April 12, 1973. The top shows time stamps and codes, while the bottom half has handwritten text in messy script: *"i am still alive"* and an address in Japan.

The artist scribbled over the official sections, turning a postal document into something personal. The message is simple but stands out against the rigid form.

Look up On Kawara next to see how he used everyday objects in his work.

Overview

Created in 1973, this work consists of four telegrams that have been altered with ballpoint pen. The artist, On Kawara, employed the ordinary postal form as a canvas, overlaying the official text with his own handwritten note.

Subject & Meaning

The added script reads “i am still alive” followed by a Japanese address, juxtaposing a personal affirmation against the bureaucratic structure of the telegram. The contrast highlights the intrusion of individual existence into impersonal communication systems.

Technique & Style

Using a simple ballpoint pen, Kawara inscribes his message directly onto the printed telegram, obscuring timestamps, codes, and other official markings. The resulting image is a faded yellow paper with stark black ink, emphasizing the tactile, everyday nature of the materials.

History & Provenance

The piece belongs to Kawara’s broader series of date paintings and text-based works that began during his New York residency in the mid‑1960s. It reflects his ongoing investigation of time, presence, and the documentation of daily life.

Context

Kawara’s practice often incorporates mundane objects—postal forms, calendars, newspaper clippings—to foreground the passage of time and the act of recording. This work aligns with his conceptual focus on the intersection of personal narrative and institutional records.

Artist & collection

Artist

On Kawara

On Kawara (河原温, Kawara On; January 2, 1933 – July 10, 2014) was a Japanese conceptual artist who lived in SoHo, New York City, from 1965 until his death.