In the past, the United States was known for sending out the world’s most dissatisfied international tourists. Today, that questionable distinction definitely belongs to China. However, it was not long ago that Chinese tourists were virtually unprecedented, especially in the West. It is an important contextual element to understand when considering the photographer’s work. Tseng Kwong Chitravelled around America, taking photos of myself at various recognizable monuments and landmarks, wearing suits that are most commonly associated with President Mao Zedong. The person who emerged from this project is the subject of The new Nerdwriter video above.
“He called the character an “ambiguous ambassador” and in the series he called it.”East meets west“Posted him – Posed himself – in front of various tourist American icons,” writes Brian Dillon. a New Yorker Works related to Tseng’s works. “He jumps into the air in front of the Brooklyn Bridge and stands calmly beside Mickey Mouse at Disneyland, with Niagara Falls staring behind him in the distance.”
Inspired by Richard Nixon’s visit to China in 1972 and Den Xiaoping’s visit to the US in 1979, Tseng produced most of these photos in the late 70s and early 80s.
Born in Hong Kong, England, partially raised in Canada and educated in Paris, Tsen arrived in New York in 1979 and was ready to participate in the downtown scene, which included Jean Michel Basquiat, Anne Magneson, Cindy Sherman and Keith Haring. That’s because His Documents in Haring’s WorksIn fact, he remains the most widely known 35 years after his own AIDS-related death. But now, as you take photos of yourself in famous places around the world, it becomes an increasingly universal practice.East meets west“It’s gaining more and more attention. In the world of art, where cultural identity is declared so violently and defended, it emphasizes the very ambiguity of the ambassador, which is highlighted by Evan’s “Neldwriter” Pusschaq. He just wanted to be an artist” – he’s become much more attractive.
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Based in Seoul Colin marshall Write and broadcasting stationTS about cities, languages, and culture. His projects include the Substack Newsletter Books about cities And the book The Stateless City: Walking through 21st century Los Angeles. Follow him on social networks previously known as Twitter @colinmarshall.
