Tino Sehgal

Immaterial in its essence, this work challenges traditional relations between the public and the perceived idea of what a contemporary art exhibition ought to be. Resembling a contemporary salon, This situation (first presented in 2007) allows for open discussions on a range of philosophical concepts and engages visitors in a critical reflection on today’s world.

Born in 1976 and based in Berlin, Tino Sehgal studied dance and political economy. For more than twenty years, he has been presenting what he calls “constructed situations” consisting of choreographic sequences and oral instructions executed by players in various exhibition venues. Explicitly distinct from performance art, theatre, and dance, these works take place continuously during the host museum’s or gallery’s public viewing hours. The conceptual nature of Sehgal’s practice arises out of a reflection on what constitutes an artwork and a crystallization of the artistic experience, which, in his work, leads to direct engagement between the public and the players in carefully designed situations. Thus, the visitors are considered an integral part of the work: they participate in it and affect how it proceeds.

The immateriality of Sehgal’s work also stems from a concern for sustainable development, a commitment that he conveys by eschewing the production of commodities, resisting the excessive proliferation of material goods, and minimizing the art world’s ecological footprint.

Major exhibitions of Sehgal’s work have been presented all over the world at venues such as the Tate Modern in London, the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Tai Kwun Contemporary in Hong Kong, KYCERO Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto, Bourse de Commerce in Paris and Fondation Beyeler in Basel. The MAC held a major solo exhibition of Sehgal’s work in 2013.

Presented with the Galerie de l’UQAM