Tseng Kwong Chi: Difference between revisions
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'''Tseng Kwong Chi''' ((chin. 曾廣智, * 1950 in Hong Kong; † 10 March 1990 in New York) was a photographer who was active in the [[East Village, Manhattan|East Village]] art scene in the 1980's. His most famous body of work is his self-portrait series, ''East Meets West'', also called the "Expeditionary Series." In the series, Tseng dressed in what he called his "Mao suit" and sunglasses, and photographed himself situated, often emotionlessly, in front of iconic tourist sites of the West including [[Notre Dame de Paris]] and the [[World Trade Center]]. |
'''Tseng Kwong Chi''' ((chin. 曾廣智, * 1950 in Hong Kong; † 10 March 1990 in New York) was a photographer who was active in the [[East Village, Manhattan|East Village]] art scene in the 1980's. His most famous body of work is his self-portrait series, ''East Meets West'', also called the "Expeditionary Series." In the series, Tseng dressed in what he called his "Mao suit" and sunglasses, and photographed himself situated, often emotionlessly, in front of iconic tourist sites of the West including [[Notre Dame de Paris]] and the [[World Trade Center]]. |
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Tseng was a chlid prodigy particularly gifted in Chinese painting and calligraphy. He moved to Canada in 1966 with his parents, sister, and younger brother and wanted to become a painter. He decided to become a photographer within a year at [[Academie Julien]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Loke|first=Margaret|title=Inside Photography|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 18, 1996}}</ref> Tseng participated in the neo-Dadaist East Village art scene existing during the late 1970s and 80s. Known as a chatty, "tireless club crawler and ham," the artist hung out with the likes of [[Kenny Scharf]], [[Keith Haring]], and [[Ann Magnuson]].<ref>Ibid</ref> |
Tseng was a chlid prodigy particularly gifted in Chinese painting and calligraphy. He moved to Canada in 1966 with his parents, sister, and younger brother and wanted to become a painter. He decided to become a photographer within a year at [[Academie Julien]]. Tseng's sister said of her brother, "He found photography much more immediate, and it placed him in social situations. He was a very social person... With photography, you're snap-shotting in the street, at parties, at openings."<ref>{{cite news|last=Loke|first=Margaret|title=Inside Photography|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 18, 1996}}</ref> Tseng participated in the neo-Dadaist East Village art scene existing during the late 1970s and 80s. Known as a chatty, "tireless club crawler and ham," the artist hung out with the likes of [[Kenny Scharf]], [[Keith Haring]], and [[Ann Magnuson]].<ref>Ibid</ref> |
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During the 1980s, Tseng also took thousands of photographs of New York [[graffiti]] artist [[Keith Haring]] as well as numerous other New York based artists including [[Andy Warhol]], [[Jean-Michel Basquiat]], [[Grace Jones]], and other who were working on murals, installations, and subway art at the time. In 1984, his photographs were shown with Haring's work at the opening of the Semaphore Gallery's East Village location in a show titled "Art in Transit". |
During the 1980s, Tseng also took thousands of photographs of New York [[graffiti]] artist [[Keith Haring]] as well as numerous other New York based artists including [[Andy Warhol]], [[Jean-Michel Basquiat]], [[Grace Jones]], and other who were working on murals, installations, and subway art at the time. In 1984, his photographs were shown with Haring's work at the opening of the Semaphore Gallery's East Village location in a show titled "Art in Transit". |
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Revision as of 17:55, 7 March 2012
Tseng Kwong Chi ((chin. 曾廣智, * 1950 in Hong Kong; † 10 March 1990 in New York) was a photographer who was active in the East Village art scene in the 1980's. His most famous body of work is his self-portrait series, East Meets West, also called the "Expeditionary Series." In the series, Tseng dressed in what he called his "Mao suit" and sunglasses, and photographed himself situated, often emotionlessly, in front of iconic tourist sites of the West including Notre Dame de Paris and the World Trade Center.
Tseng was a chlid prodigy particularly gifted in Chinese painting and calligraphy. He moved to Canada in 1966 with his parents, sister, and younger brother and wanted to become a painter. He decided to become a photographer within a year at Academie Julien. Tseng's sister said of her brother, "He found photography much more immediate, and it placed him in social situations. He was a very social person... With photography, you're snap-shotting in the street, at parties, at openings."[1] Tseng participated in the neo-Dadaist East Village art scene existing during the late 1970s and 80s. Known as a chatty, "tireless club crawler and ham," the artist hung out with the likes of Kenny Scharf, Keith Haring, and Ann Magnuson.[2]
During the 1980s, Tseng also took thousands of photographs of New York graffiti artist Keith Haring as well as numerous other New York based artists including Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Grace Jones, and other who were working on murals, installations, and subway art at the time. In 1984, his photographs were shown with Haring's work at the opening of the Semaphore Gallery's East Village location in a show titled "Art in Transit".
Tseng died of AIDS and was survived by his companion Robert Haynes, according to his New York Times obituary. Robert Haynes died on December 22, 1998.
Tseng's work continues to be displayed in public venues. He is currently represented by Heather James Fine Art in Palm Desert, California, Ben Brown Fine Arts in London and Hong Kong, and Paul Kasmin Gallery in New York City.