Taiwanese performance artist opens 2-year-long exhibition in New York

New York, Oct. 4 (CNA) Taiwanese-American performance artist Hsieh Teh-ching (謝德慶) on Saturday opened a major two-year retrospective at Dia Beacon in New York, showcasing six of his most influential works, including five iconic one-year performances and a 13-year project that had never been shown publicly.

Titled "Tehching Hsieh: Lifeworks 1978-1999," the exhibition presents photographs and documents from Hsieh's radical long-duration performances. Dia Beacon, part of the Dia Art Foundation, is located along the Hudson River in Beacon, New York.

The first five works revisit his "One Year Performances." In Cage Piece (1978-1979), Hsieh spent a year confined to a locked cage. Time Clock Piece (1980-1981) saw him punch a time clock every hour, day and night. Outdoor Piece (1981-1982) documented a year spent living outside with no shelter.

In Rope Piece (1983-1984), Hsieh and fellow artist Linda Montano were tied together for a year without touching. No Art Piece (1985-1986) chronicled a year in which he refrained from making, talking about, or even looking at art.

The centrepiece is "Thirteen Year Plan" (1986-1999), his longest and most enigmatic project. On his 36th birthday, Hsieh announced he would "make art" for 13 years but keep it hidden. He completed the work in 1999 but revealed it to the public for the first time on Saturday.

More than 200 visitors attended the opening event, which featured a conversation between Hsieh, Montano, Dia Deputy Director Humberto Moro, and guest curator Adrian Heathfield.

Dia Director Jessica Morgan said the foundation was deeply grateful for Hsieh's donations, which also include 11 additional works gifted in 2024.

Born in Pingtung County's Nanzhou Township, Hsieh was one of 15 children. After dropping out of high school to pursue painting, he shifted to performance art following military service and moved to the United States in 1974. He began his One Year Performances in 1978 and concluded his artistic experiments with the Thirteen Year Plan in 1999.