Hong Foundation at Dia Beacon Opening — Tehching Hsieh’s Epic Retrospective Debuts

The epic retrospective 〈Tehching Hsieh: Lifeworks 1978–1999〉, significantly supported by the Hong Foundation, opened to the public on October 4, 2025, at Dia Beacon in New York.

On October 3, the Chairman of the Hong Foundation, Royce YC Hong, and the CEO, Grace Cheung were invited to Dia Beacon for the exhibition preview, where they joined this historic moment in person. Through this significant support, the Hong Foundation aims to amplify the long-term resonance and dialogue of Hsieh’s artistic practice within cultural history, while also expressing deep respect for the artist. That afternoon, Tehching Hsieh personally guided the leadership of the Hong Foundation through the exhibition, leaving them profoundly moved. They expressed their hope that Hsieh’s experience and insights will one day return to Taiwan to inspire intergenerational conversations among artists.

The epic retrospective is co-curated by Humberto Moro, Deputy Director of Programs at Dia Art Foundation, and internationally renowned scholar Adrian Heathfield. Conceived around an architectural model that the artist developed over the course of a decade, the exhibition is specially designed for Dia Beacon, spatially articulating the relationship between “art time” and “life time.”Comprising six galleries, the exhibition dedicates four equally sized galleries to Hsieh’s first four 〈One Year Performances〉—〈One Year Performance 1978–1979 (Cage Piece)〉, 〈One Year Performance 1980–1981 (Time Clock Piece)〉, 〈One Year Performance 1981–1982 (Outdoor Piece)〉, and〈 Art/Life: One Year Performance 1983–1984 (Rope Piece)〉—each including essential documents and objects integral to the works.

The fifth and sixth galleries present 〈One Year Performance 1985–1986 (No Art Piece)〉 and 〈Tehching Hsieh 1986–1999 (Thirteen-Year Plan)〉. The scale of the 〈No Art Piece〉 gallery represents a single year, while the Thirteen-Year Plan gallery extends nearly the entire length of Dia Beacon’s lower level, symbolizing the passage of thirteen years. Both galleries feature only the poster and statements associated with each work.

Through the exhibition, visitors traverse the intertwined journey of Hsieh’s life and artistic practice, encountering the extraordinary dedication and perseverance that define his oeuvre.

A highlight of the opening weekend will be the talk “A Conversation with Tehching Hsieh, Adrian Heathfield, and Humberto Moro, with Special Guest Linda Montano”, taking place on October 4, 2025, at 2:00pm at Dia Beacon’s lower-level gallery. The conversation will revisit the past two decades of critical engagement with Hsieh’s practice, including Montano’s collaboration in〈 Art/Life One Year Performance 1983–1984 (Rope Piece)〉.

Please stay connected with the Hong Foundation’s website and social media channels for upcoming updates and related programs.

▎ Exhibition details

〈Tehching Hsieh: Lifeworks 1978–1999〉 

Venue: Dia Beacon (3 Beekman Street, Beacon, New York 12508) 

Dates: October 4, 2025 – October 2027 

Details: https://www.diaart.org/exhibition/exhibitions-projects/tehching-hsieh-lifeworks-19781999-exhibition/type/upcoming

▎Event details

〈A Conversation with Tehching Hsieh, Adrian Heathfield, and Humberto Moro, with Special Guest Linda Montano〉

 Venue: Dia Beacon (3 Beekman Street, Beacon, New York 12508)

 Time: October 4, 2025, 2:00pm