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Chien-Chi Chang

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description Chien-Chi Chang Overview

Chien-Chi Chang is a Taiwanese photographer born in 1961 who became a full member of Magnum Photos in 2001. His most recognized work, 'The Chain,' documents patients at the Long Fa Tang asylum in Taiwan, where they were chained together in pairs as a form of treatment. These portraits were exhibited at the 2001 Venice Biennale and later published as a book. Chang's photography consistently explores themes of alienation, connection, and migration, including his ongoing documentation of Chinese immigrants in New York City and foreign brides in Taiwan.

help Chien-Chi Chang FAQ

Who are the men connected by ropes in Chien-Chi Chang's The Chain?

They were patients at Long Fa Tang, a controversial institution in Taiwan where residents were physically linked together. Chang photographed the men in formal paired portraits, making the restraints impossible to treat as background detail.

Why was The Chain shown at the Venice Biennale?

The project combined documentary evidence with a highly controlled portrait format that confronted institutional confinement and human dignity. It was presented at the 2001 Venice Biennale.

What other long-term subjects has Chien-Chi Chang photographed?

His work has followed marriage migration between Taiwan and Vietnam, Chinese immigrants in New York's Chinatown, and divided families. These projects repeatedly examine displacement, family bonds, and lives shaped by borders.

How is Chien-Chi Chang connected to Magnum Photos?

Chang is a member of Magnum Photos, the cooperative associated with photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa. His work extends Magnum's documentary tradition through sustained, often deeply personal projects.