New York, New York (WTC)

Tseng Kwong Chi, artist

1950–1990

New York, New York (WTC), 1979

Portfolio/Series title: East Meets West

Where object was made: United States

Material/technique: gelatin silver print

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 17.6 x 17.8 cm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 6 15/16 x 7 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 19 x 14 in

Credit line: Museum purchase: Funds from staff, faculty, and students at the SMA, Kress Foundation Dept of Art History, and Murphy Art & Architecture Library to benefit the Robin Hood Relief Fund to help victims of the WTC attack and their families

Accession number: 2001.0075

Not on display

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Images

Label texts

Spencer Museum of Art Highlights

Wearing a Chairman Mao worker’s suit and Ray-Bans, artist Tseng Kwong Chi stands in front of the World Trade Center twin towers two decades before their destruction on September 11, 2001. While these buildings now represent a tragic event, Tseng used the tall structures as a symbol of optimism. This photograph is part of the series in which the artist took self-portraits in front of iconic landmarks around the world, including California’s Hollywood sign and the Eiffel Tower. Tseng wears an identification card bearing the title “Art Alien,” suggesting not only that he is out of place but also that he is interchangeable with any other non-citizen.

Brosseau Center for Learning: In Conversation with the 2018–19 KU Common Book

In East Meets West, Tseng Kwong Chi photographed himself standing in front of well-known monuments of the western world. Although he never set foot in mainland China, he always appeared in the photographs wearing a Chairman Mao worker’s suit, perpetuating the idea of “East” meeting “West.”

Tseng wears an identification card bearing the title of “Art Alien,” suggesting not only that he is out of place but also that he is interchangeable with any other non-citizen.