I Am Still Alive (18.05.1973) 1973

On Kawara created this work, "I Am Still Alive" on May 18, 1973. It's an artwork composed of printed and handwritten elements on what seems to be an envelope. The phrase "I am still alive" is typed boldly on the bottom left, which functions as a stark declaration of existence within the postal system. This statement engages with semiotics, reducing communication to its most essential message about being. Consider the composition: an asymmetrical arrangement of stamps, addresses, and handwritten notes. The cancellation stamps and various postal markings create layers of authentication and movement, reflecting Kawara’s exploration of time and place. The envelope then becomes a means of transcending physical and temporal boundaries, challenging fixed notions of identity through the repeated assertion of existence. The materiality of the envelope also adds another layer of meaning. It's a mass-produced object transformed into a unique artifact by its journey through the postal system, which questions how everyday items can be recontextualized. This shift transforms how meaning is generated within broader cultural and philosophical discourses.