One Year Performance 1980-1981 (a.k.a. Time Clock Piece)
I first heard of Tehching Hsieh and the “Time Clock Piece, 1980-1981” in 2010. I was both shocked and in awe. I’ve experienced sleep deprivation but I can’t imagine punching the clock every hour and taking self-portraits of each of these moments for a whole year. It’s another level of performance. For Marina Abramovíc, she makes it clear that she prepares for weeks before her performances thought meditation, dietary changes, etc. I’d be interested to know how Tehching Hsieh sustained such mental and physical endurance for his year-long performance projects.
Here’s a good article about his career and exhibition in Sydney.