Waiting to Punch the Time Clock
Photograph by Cheng Wei Kuong
© 1981 Tehching Hsieh
, Courtesy the artist and Sean Kelly Gallery, New York.
In this concise exhibition of one of the world's most important performance artists, and the founding influence on Chinese performance art, Tehching Hsieh's most iconic year-long performance piece—in which the artist punches a time clock every hour for an entire year—will be shown for the first time in Beijing. Born in Taiwan and based in New York City, where he conceived and executed five One Year Performances 1978-1986 before abruptly ceasing to make and show new work, Hsieh is a cross-cultural pioneer of the avant-garde whose practice is currently undergoing a scholarly reexamination. This exhibition will present the full installation of the Time Clock Piece (One Year Performance 1980-1981) alongside documentary materials on Hsieh's other work.
" The artist’s stamina reveals something incredibly serious about his willpower and drive while coping with sleep deprivation and isolation.”