jimmy

Art Asia Pacific 2004 bound journals, p46-53
Tehching Hsieh, is the most legendary artist in the world. He started a series of real time performances in the 70's which finished late 90's. This is debatable but u will have 2 read all about him to find out why.
these performances spanned a year at a time with 6-12 months or so in between.
<--- this pic is from 'One year performance, september 30, 1978- september 29, 1979' where hespent 1 year jailed in a cell which he constructed in his appartment in new york. He obstained from tv, reading, writing and every hour on the hour he punched in the time card as shown in the pic. below left is a photoe closer towards the end of the year with his hair grown. Below centre is his room, also (not shown) is a small kitchen and toilet. His illeagle immigration to america and susiquent life in new york is important to the work as it deals with law, liberties, borders, imprisonment (symbolic + literal) for a start. the fact that the work is recorded and photographed provides proof to the art world that it is happening and at the same time introduces surveilance and regulation as a concept in the same way that we are monitered in everyday life as 'digits' as he calls us.

below right 'One year Performance, July 4, 1983 - july 4, 1984', he and artist Linda Montano remain tied by a piece of rope and dont touch for 1 year. needs no comment by me.

Hsieh carried out a number of these 1 year performances until he abruptly stopped in 1999. "committing profesional suicide" as the art market demands new comodity renewal as does any economic infrastructure. He said he will "go into life" andhasnt produced any new art since 2000...............