One Year Performance (Rope Piece)

Artists Tehching Hsieh and Linda Montano spent a year tied together with an 8ft rope.

The performance was an agreement between the two that followed a strict set of rules; no touching or being alone for the entirety of the performance, which started on July 4th 1983 and ended the same date in 1984. Hsieh, who spearheaded the project, said he wanted an experience that would force him to overcome all his fears when it comes to communication and connection between humans.

“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.”

Throughout the performance, their communication moved from long negotiations to angry rope-tugging and grunting. 

“This piece is about being like an animal, naked. We cannot hide our negative sides. We cannot be shy. It’s more than just honesty — we show our weakness.”