Su-Mei Tse

Su-Mei Tse is a Luxembourgian artist whose work integrates photography, video, installations, and music.

Biography of Su-Mei Tse

Su-Mei Tse was born in 1973 in Luxembourg. Initially, she was trained as a classical cellist at the Conservatoire de Musique in Luxembourg. Later, she transitioned to art education.

In 1996, she completed her studies in Textile & Printing at the L’École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Appliqués in Paris. Four years later, in 2000, Su-Mei Tse obtained an MFA in plastic arts from the L’École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

Her breakthrough came in 2003 when she won the Golden Lion for her exhibition "Air Conditioned" in the Luxembourg Pavilion at the 50th Venice Biennale. She also received the Edward Steichen Award in 2005 and the Fondation Prince Pierre de Monaco Prize in 2009. 

In 2013, Su-Mei Tse was appointed a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. 

Her solo exhibitions include "Beyond" at Galerie Tschudi in Zuoz (2022), "Enough or alive" at Nosbaum Reding in Luxembourg (2021), "In the (very) beginning" at Peter Blum Gallery in New York (2019), "Nested" at Taipei Fine Arts Museum in Taipei City (2019), and many more.

Additionally, Su-Mei Tse's works have been featured in numerous group shows held at various galleries and museums around the world, including ESLITE Gallery in Beijing, The Contemporary Art Museum of Luxembourg in Luxembourg, Caixa Forum in Madrid, Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, Centre Culturel Paul Barblé in Strassen, among others. 

Currently, the artist lives and works in Luxembourg and Berlin. 

Su-Mei Tse's Art Style 

Tse's work is the result of a dynamic blend of photography, video, and objects, with sound, rhythm, and music playing a crucial role. Her early works include "La Marionnette" (1999), where her cello performance is continually interrupted by puppet strings attached to her limbs, creating a new composition. In "Das Wohltemperierte Klavier" (2001), the music is disrupted by splints bandaged to the player's fingers.

She explores life's questions by capturing fleeting moments of memories and feelings through various media. Impressions from everyday existence—whether a passing thought, a transitory state, or a visual or auditory experience—are lyrically translated into her work.

Tse initially trained as a classical cellist before transitioning to visual arts. This background prompts her to reflect on the nature of music and self, while the perception of visual and auditory elements remains central to her work. Her practice is not only seen and heard but also felt. Drawing from her Chinese and British heritage, Tse contemplates cultural variances, exploring the relationship between East and West in her art.