Reflections

Tehching Hsieh: One Year Performance

            This artist is very intellectual, yet conservative in his practice. He makes very difficult living conditions seem pedestrian, but it is not as easy as it looks. In his lecture he seems calm and almost unemotional, but his artworks are total opposite. One that I seem to relate to is when he talks about his journey in not stepping foot in any building or facility whatsoever. He spent very little on necessities and made them work throughout his work. I had been through something similar, but definitely not as long as he had done it. His technique of survival and interaction with the world created a seemingly pleasant understanding of humanity. He pushed past his limits and we see this on his exhibition of Time Clock as he states that he slept past his alarm to punch the clock minimally. All of his pieces are solely based on time even though they are meant to convey the mingling of human and its environment. The idea that I got from Hsieh is his visceral standpoint from a human being’s perspective of limits inside of a limitless worlds which is seen in the way that he breaks rules (non-citizen residing in U.S., refusal to appear in court case, etc.). He is by far the bravest artist in my opinion, even without seeing his work of broken limbs. It is absolutely fascinating for his unthinkable acts and willingness to step out of boundaries, character, and position to achieve his message in his artworks. When speaks about his mother, he genuinely revelas his passionate side which gives me an idea of where his level of passion in art may have stemmed from. She was a firm parent that instilled a great deal of religion and morals into her son before her passing and the way that he is solid on standing his ground when expressing himself would be another extension of her teachings.