Kuan Hsieh | 謝寬
Kuan Hsieh 謝寬 is a Taiwanese artist and photographer currently residing in Brooklyn, New York. Kuan was born and raised in Taiwan and came to New York in 2021. In the same year, he immersed himself in the art world and later received an MFA from Parsons School of Design. Kuan’s work centers around the essence of the existential human experience, utilizing mediums such as photography, video, sculpture, and installation. Within his practice, he emphasizes the significance of technique and craftsmanship. These attributes act as the bridge between the concepts and the results. He believes that it is through the physical labor one invests in the creation of the work that one can truly bring the concepts to life.
Through The Ghosts That Linger, Kuan endeavors to spark dialogues surrounding the nuanced nature of identities, particularly the Taiwanese identity. Since the Great Retreat in 1949, questions of ethnic identification and national amalgamation have been at the forefront of debates in Taiwan. As a descendant of indigenous Taiwanese (台灣原住民), native Taiwanese (本省人), and Chinese mainlanders (外省 人), Kuan expresses the confusion and disconnection he has experienced as a Taiwanese through contemplative body movements. Though the answer to our identity remains elusive, Kuan holds the belief that Taiwanese society will eventually foster reconciliation among diverse ethnic groups.
In The Ghosts That Linger, Kuan draws inspiration from Japanese wood-crafting culture, crafting four pairs of footprints and Japanese Shoji screens by hand. These sculptures not only embody the tangible results of physical labor but also serve as symbolic references to the profound influence of Japanese culture on Taiwan's evolution. Throughout the live performance, the body follows the footprints laid in front and leaves footprints behind at the same time, questioning our place in this contemporary era, particularly as members of the younger generation. The work aims to instigate discussions and welcomes individuals with similar experiences to share their narratives.