Noah Dillon analyzes On Kawara's 'I Got Up' series from November 1, 1969

Noah Dillon examines On Kawara's conceptual artwork 'I Got Up' from November 1, 1969, part of the artist's long-running series documenting daily existence through postcards. The piece represents Kawara's methodical practice of recording mundane moments, which became a hallmark of his career. Dillon's analysis appeared on artcritical.com on July 13, 2014, offering critical perspective on this specific date within Kawara's broader body of work. Kawara's systematic approach to art-making challenged traditional notions of artistic production and documentation. The 'I Got Up' series, spanning from 1968 to 1979, consists of thousands of postcards sent to friends and colleagues worldwide. Each postcard bore the phrase 'I GOT UP AT' followed by the exact time of rising, along with the date and address of the sender. This particular entry from November 1, 1969, contributes to understanding Kawara's persistent engagement with time, place, and routine. The analysis situates Kawara within conceptual art movements that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s.