The artwork titled “I Am Still Alive (Four Telegrams)” was created by the artist On Kawara in 1973. It belongs to the Conceptual Art and Mail Art movements and is classified under the figurative genre.
The artwork consists of four telegrams, each bearing the simple yet profound message “I am still alive” followed by the artist’s name, On Kawara. The telegrams, dated and addressed with varied specifics, convey an existential declaration of the artist’s continued existence. The minimalist presentation and the repetitive nature of the content underscore the thematic focus on existence, time, and communication within the broader context of conceptual art. The combination of the everyday medium of telegraphy with the existential message exemplifies the melding of personal and universal themes typical of Kawara’s work.
