By Jonathan Shih
A one year performance by Linda Montano and Tehching Hsieh (1983-1984)
The two spent an entire year bound together by an eight-foot cord tied around their waists. The rules of the artwork stipulated that they would not touch each other. The work speaks to issues like freedom, privacy, control, and commitment, as well as the way humans coexist and rely on each other. Daily activities such as sleeping, cooking, and bathing became constantly challenging, as the two couldn’t be more than 8 feet apart from each other.
As Hsieh said, “I wanted to do one piece about human beings and their struggle with each other. We cannot go into life alone, without people. But we are together so we become each other’s cage.”
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