"No photographs allowed in the museum, and no wall texts explaining the works."
Tino Sehgal, the contemporary artist known for turning viewers themselves into part of the artwork, is taking his practice outdoors for a new experiment set against Jeju's natural landscape. Participants will stay on site for 20 hours, taking part in the work directly.
One Work Sold for 200 Million Won, With No Photos or Catalogs
Sehgal, a British-born German contemporary artist, will present an immersive participatory art program at Taraka Jeju in Saekdal-dong, Seogwipo, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, from the 30th through Nov. 29.
Rather than paintings or sculptures, Sehgal makes art out of human movement, conversation and interaction with the audience. In the works he calls "Constructed Situations," the process in which people act and communicate within a designated space becomes the artwork itself.
He is particularly known for refusing to document his works in photographs or video, and for not producing exhibition catalogs. The point, he holds, is the moment experienced on site rather than anything left behind in physical form.
Despite that approach, the works command substantial prices. According to The New York Times, one of Sehgal's "Constructed Situations" works has sold for $145,000, or about 200 million won.
He has presented work at major institutions including the Guggenheim Museum in New York and Tate Modern in London. From March through June this year, he held his first solo exhibition in Korea at the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul, showing six types of "Constructed Situations," including works combining human movement with sculptural elements.
A Jeju Forest Instead of a Museum, 20 Hours Spent as Part of the Work
The Jeju program departs from the museum-centered exhibition format, linking a stay in nature to the artwork itself.
Sehgal said the idea grew out of a trip he took to Jeju during his first visit to Korea, which came in connection with the Leeum exhibition.
"I fell in love with the beauty of Jeju," he said. "I decided to step outside the indoor space of the museum and stage the program for the first time anywhere, with a beautiful island as the backdrop."
Participants spend 20 hours on site, walking through Jeju's forests and gardens and resting. At unexpected moments, they encounter an "Interpreter" of the work. These are the performers who enact Sehgal's pieces, creating new situations through their encounters with visitors.
Rather than watching a performance on a separate stage, participants complete the work by joining in the conversation and movement themselves. Ordinary actions and chance meetings become an artistic experience.
The program also includes humanities lectures and food. Classical philologist Bae Chul-hyun, a professor, will give humanities lectures, and life artist Lee Hyo-jae has curated a "Jeju Natural Table" dining experience.
Taraka Jeju, the venue, also allows pets. Visitors can spend time in nature with their animals while taking part in the art program.
The program runs for about a month starting on the 30th. It is expected to extend the direct audience participation Sehgal has emphasized in his earlier exhibitions into Jeju's natural setting and an overnight stay.
