Telegram (210 x 152 mm.): “i am still alive, on kawara.”

Addressed to curator Zdenek Felix, with Museum Folkwang receipt stamped dated “04.MRZ.1981.” Deutsche Bundespost telegram sheet, printed on one side, horizontal fold. N.p.: 1981.


An On Kawara (29,771 days) telegram sent in 1981 to Museum Folkwang curator Dr. Zdenek Felix (b. 1938). Kawara’s correspondence with Felix began in the 70’s and continued into the 90’s; he was first in contact when Felix was at the Kunstmuseum Basel, and then subsequently the Deichtorhallen (Hamburg). The present telegram was likely related to Kawara’s exhibition continuity/discontinuity, 1963-1979, staged at the Moderna Museet (Stockholm), Museum Folkwang (Essen), (truncated) Van Abbemuseum (Eindhoven), and National Museum of Art, Osaka. It is estimated that Kawara transmitted ca. 900 telegrams from 1969 until 2000. These communications often represented his only response to curators and collectors who contacted him about exhibiting or acquiring his work.


The series originates in December 1969 with three telegrams addressed to French curator Michel Claura for Kawara’s contribution to the 18 Paris IV. 70 exhibition on rue Mouffetard: “I AM NOT GOING TO COMMIT SUICIDE DONT WORRY,” “I AM NOT GOING TO COMMIT SUICIDE WORRY,” and “I AM GOING TO SLEEP FORGET IT.” Kawara sent the inaugural I am still alive telegram to Dorothy and Herbert Vogel in January 1970.


In fine condition. (Inventory #: 10950)