THE MAN WHO PAINTED TODAY

What would you think of an artist who spent much of his life painting "today"? And if for some reason he can't finish the painting of today, he destroys it and starts again next day.

This is exactly what the Japanese artist On Kawara has been doing for many years.

Working, usually on a black canvas which he works with layers full of subtle texture. Then he begins to paint the day the date and year in the same fashion usually in white. The process of painting the day normally takes the whole day as he works the canvas meticulously.

When we examine these canvases we realise that they are in fact a perfect record of history, of his being and time. As the minutes seconds and hours passed, Kawara stood before his canvas painting exactly that - the day. And continues to do so.

In this way Kawara is the man who paints today.