Monument Valley, Arizona, from the series East Meets West

Tseng Kwong Chi, Monument Valley, Arizona, from the series East Meets West, 1987, printed 2008, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment and the Asian Pacific  American Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific  American Center, 2021.14.6, © Muna Tseng Dance Projects, Inc.
Tseng Kwong Chi, Monument Valley, Arizona, from the series East Meets West, 1987, printed 2008, gelatin silver print, frame: 37 14 × 37 14 in. (94.6 × 94.6 cm) image: 36 × 36 in. (91.4 × 91.4 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment and the Asian Pacific American Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, 2021.14.6, © Muna Tseng Dance Projects, Inc.

Artwork Details

Title
Monument Valley, Arizona, from the series East Meets West
Date
1987, printed 2008
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
frame: 37 14 × 37 14 in. (94.6 × 94.6 cm) image: 36 × 36 in. (91.4 × 91.4 cm)
Copyright
© Muna Tseng Dance Projects, Inc.
Credit Line
Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment and the Asian Pacific American Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center
Mediums Description
gelatin silver print
Classifications
Subjects
  • Landscape — Arizona — Monument Valley
Object Number
2021.14.6

Artwork Description

In his signature series East Meets West, Tseng Kwong Chi created a role for himself he called the "Ambiguous Ambassador." Wearing a Mao suit (the gray uniform associated with the Chinese Communist Party) and mirrored sunglasses, he posed next to landmarks and monuments, many of them emblems of American national identity.

Tseng highlighted the signifying power of dress and posture. As an immigrant and person of Chinese descent, he was also conscious of how Asians are stereotyped in the West. His donning of the Mao suit in public was a tongue-in-cheek performance of "Chineseness" that both played to and subverted assumptions about race, culture, and nationality.

Gallery label, 2024

Works by this artist (6 items)

Warren Mac Kenzie, Teapot, ca. 1980, stoneware and temmoku glaze with cane, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift from the collection of Michael Peter Giza, 1998.55.2A-B
Teapot
Dateca. 1980
stoneware and temmoku glaze with cane
On view
Warren Mac Kenzie, Six-sided Lidded Pot, ca. 1980, glazed stoneware, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift from the collection of Michael Peter Giza, 1998.55.5A-B
Six-sided Lidded Pot
Dateca. 1980
glazed stoneware
On view
Warren Mac Kenzie, Yunomi, ca. 1980, stoneware and glaze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift from the collection of Michael Peter Giza, 1998.55.3
Yunomi
Dateca. 1980
stoneware and glaze
On view
Warren Mac Kenzie, Yunomi, ca. 1980, stoneware and glaze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift from the collection of Michael Peter Giza, 1998.55.4
Yunomi
Dateca. 1980
stoneware and glaze
On view

More Artworks from the Collection

Irmgard Mezey, Bowl, ca. 1975, stoneware with feldspathic glaze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1975.126
Bowl
Dateca. 1975
stoneware with feldspathic glaze
Not on view
Frank Boyden, Tom Coleman, Turban (Heron) Vessel, 1986, stoneware, manganese slip, and copper luster, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Smithsonian Women's Committee, 1988.22
Turban (Heron) Vessel
Date1986
stoneware, manganese slip, and copper luster
On view
Marguerite Wildenhain, Saucer, ca. 1971, glazed stoneware, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alexander L. and Frances J. Pickens, 1991.161.5.1
Saucer
Dateca. 1971
glazed stoneware
On view
Richard DeVore, Untitled (#403) Vessel, 1983, multi-glazed stoneware, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1989.8
Untitled (#403) Vessel
Date1983
multi-glazed stoneware
Not on view