Tehching Hsieh is renowned for a series of works that revolutionised the conceptual, physical, aesthetic, and temporal limits of performance art. His body of work includes six performances that the artist defines as his ‘lifeworks’. For Asian Avant-Garde Film Festival 2025, Hsieh will participate in three moderated discussions held at the same time on three consecutive days. Each talk will be accompanied by images and clips and will focus on two of his ‘lifeworks’, all of which are held in the M+ Collection.

On Saturday, 31 May, Hsieh will discuss his third and fourth ‘lifeworks’: One Year Performance 1981–1982 (Outdoor Piece) and Art/Life One Year Performance 1983–1984 (Rope Piece).

In Outdoor Piece, Hsieh lived on the streets of New York for an entire year, refusing shelter in any buildings, tents, subways, or other modes of transport. He faced the elements armed only with a sleeping bag and a backpack filled with essentials, including clothing, maps, a camera, a radio, and a flashlight.

In Rope Piece, Hsieh tied one end of a rope to his own body and the other end to his friend, artist Linda Montano, effectively tethering them together for a year. They were required to stay within the length of the rope without touching each other.

This second discussion with Hsieh, for Tehching Hsieh’s Lifeworks—Outdoor Piece and Rope Piece, will be moderated by Russell Storer, M+ Senior Curator and Head of Curatorial Affairs. The conversation will take place in English.