Tehching Hsieh's art is an enigma - for one year he lived in an 11ft 6in x 9ft wooden cage, not allowed to speak, read or consume any media. His friend would visit every day with food and waste removal, but even this simple act was bound by a set of rules and schedules, as part of his performance piece Cage Piece. For seven months after its conclusion, Hsieh embarked on another year-long project, Time Clock Piece, where he punched a factory-style clock-in machine in his studio, every hour of each day for 365 days.
His commitment to the art form is unwavering, with Hsieh undertaking what many consider the most extreme performance art pieces. Marina Abramović has described him as the "master" of performance art. Despite being an outsider in society, Hsieh's work explores themes of life, equality and time - concepts that transcend politics and personal opinions.
Hsieh began his career in painting but shifted to conceptual art and planned actions based on a concept, outline of rules and strict schedules. His performances are not masochistic or meant for pain; instead, they're about documenting the human experience of passing time. He likens some performance art to lying on a bed of nails, while his work is more even.
One-Year Performance 1981-1982 saw Hsieh living outside for a year without entering any building, vehicle, or using a tent. The winter that followed was one of the coldest of the century in New York, with temperatures plummeting to -16 degrees Celsius (-1 degree Fahrenheit). He struggled, shouting "I cannot go inside!" as NYPD officers arrested him while filming.
Despite living outside for a year, Hsieh documented his experience through photographs and recorded conversations. The reconstructed wooden cage at Dia Beacon houses a pile of time-clock chads and 8,760 photographs of Hsieh's hourly punches. Seeing his life's work in one place is stark and moving.
Hsieh concluded his final 13-year performance piece, Thirteen Year Plan, on New Year's Eve 1999, after turning 49. He released a statement that resembled a ransom collage stating he "kept himself alive" and passed the year. The artist never stopped making art but simply chose to no longer share it with others.
Hsieh's unwavering commitment to his art form is rooted in the belief that life is about passing time, which makes all people equal - regardless of their background or status in society. His performances are not meant to be admired but understood on a human level.
His commitment to the art form is unwavering, with Hsieh undertaking what many consider the most extreme performance art pieces. Marina Abramović has described him as the "master" of performance art. Despite being an outsider in society, Hsieh's work explores themes of life, equality and time - concepts that transcend politics and personal opinions.
Hsieh began his career in painting but shifted to conceptual art and planned actions based on a concept, outline of rules and strict schedules. His performances are not masochistic or meant for pain; instead, they're about documenting the human experience of passing time. He likens some performance art to lying on a bed of nails, while his work is more even.
One-Year Performance 1981-1982 saw Hsieh living outside for a year without entering any building, vehicle, or using a tent. The winter that followed was one of the coldest of the century in New York, with temperatures plummeting to -16 degrees Celsius (-1 degree Fahrenheit). He struggled, shouting "I cannot go inside!" as NYPD officers arrested him while filming.
Despite living outside for a year, Hsieh documented his experience through photographs and recorded conversations. The reconstructed wooden cage at Dia Beacon houses a pile of time-clock chads and 8,760 photographs of Hsieh's hourly punches. Seeing his life's work in one place is stark and moving.
Hsieh concluded his final 13-year performance piece, Thirteen Year Plan, on New Year's Eve 1999, after turning 49. He released a statement that resembled a ransom collage stating he "kept himself alive" and passed the year. The artist never stopped making art but simply chose to no longer share it with others.
Hsieh's unwavering commitment to his art form is rooted in the belief that life is about passing time, which makes all people equal - regardless of their background or status in society. His performances are not meant to be admired but understood on a human level.
I mean, can you even imagine being locked up in a 11ft wooden cage for a year without any human interaction? 
Not allowed to speak, read, or watch TV? That's some next-level dedication to art! 
But what really gets me is how strict Hsieh was about his rules and schedules. Like, who visits you daily with food and waste removal, but also has to follow a set schedule? 
It's like he's trying to test the limits of human endurance or something... 
I guess it's all about pushing boundaries for art, but can't we just, like, take breaks or something? 
Anyway, I think Hsieh's commitment to his craft is admirable, even if some of his stunts are a bit extreme. 
. He's like a true pioneer of performance art, pushing boundaries and exploring themes that are still relevant today. Like, who needs media or communication when you're trying to document the human experience of time? 
. I can relate to how he's saying it's all about understanding what it means to pass time, regardless of who you are or where you come from 
Just read about Tehching Hsieh's art and it's giving me the chills 
. The guy literally locked himself away for 13 years, that's insane! 
. Anyway, his work explores the human experience of time and equality, but at what cost? 
and saw this insane hike with a view that just blew my mind!!! it was like, i'm standing at the edge of a cliff, looking out at this endless expanse of nature... and then i started thinking about tehching hsieh's art pieces 
what is he even doing?! 
. i feel like that's what tehching hsieh's art is all about - being present, and aware of time... 
The fact that he pushed himself to do such extreme things just to make a point about equality and time is wild. And, tbh, it's kinda inspiring to see someone so dedicated to their craft. I've gotta respect his vision, even if I don't fully get it... yet 
. And the fact that he documented his entire process through photos and recordings is just incredible 
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. His Time Clock Piece is so interesting because it's basically just him punching a clock all day, every day - it's almost meditative 
. But for real, his work explores some deep themes about life and equality, which is actually pretty inspiring. I love how he's not trying to be dramatic or painful, just genuine and thought-provoking. The fact that he went through all that and still made art without sharing it with others... 
. I think that's why Marina Abramović calls him the "master" of performance art...he's got this deep understanding of what it means to be alive and how we all are equal in the end 
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But at the same time, it's inspiring to see how he kept going despite the struggles and extreme conditions. His art isn't meant to be masochistic or pain-inducing; it's actually a reflection of his desire to understand human existence and equality.
️ Like, how does one even survive that kind of monotony? And poor Marina Abramović calling him the "master" of performance art... sounds a bit dramatic to me 
. But seriously, what I find really interesting about Hsieh's work is that he's not just documenting his own experience, but also exploring these bigger themes like equality and time. It's like, he's taking this very human concept and turning it into something abstract and thought-provoking. And the fact that he went through all this for 13 years before stopping... I don't know, man, it's both inspiring and a bit haunting 
. But at the same time, I admire how he pushed himself to explore what life is like when we're forced to slow down or speed up. His art isn't about seeking attention, but about reflecting on our shared human experiences 
... and the fact that he did all of these crazy performance pieces for so long is just amazing 
... and that's what makes it so moving to see all of these photos and videos of him doing his thing 
...
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, especially in those harsh winter conditions