Tseng Kwong Chi

Tseng Kwong Chi, 1981

Keith Haring, 1981

Tseng Kwong Chi is known for his photographic series, Expeditionary Self-Portrait Series (also known as East Meets West). Born in Hong Kong in 1950, he moved to Canada with his family in 1966. Interested in the arts, he studied painting and photography at the L’École Suerior d’Arts Graphiques in Paris, France and eventually moved to New York City in 1978. 

 

Always fascinated with traveling, Chi took photos in America, Europe and Asia, becoming known as an “inquisitive traveler.”  

In his series East Meets West, Tseng Kwong Chi makes fun of western stereotypes, exploring Westerners’ ignorance of Asia. To represent a tourist, he wears a traditional Mao suit, mirrored sunglasses and a fake ID, which is clipped to his chest pocket. Receiving great attention, these photos were shown in the Mudd Club in 1981.

Becoming active in the arts in the 1980s, Chi befriended Keith Haring, taking photos of him working on murals, installations and in the subway. These photographs were eventually shown with Haring’s work at the Semaphore Gallery’s East Village location in an exhibit called “Art in Transit.”

Passing away in 1990, Chi’s work is still remembered to this day.