Tino Sehgal creates ‘constructed situations’ which are temporary encounters between people. Contrary to most live art where artists enact the work themselves, Sehgal ‘directs’ these situations which are realized via participants’ voice, conversation, and movement that in turn shapes the visitors’ experience, thus forming the meaning of the work.
As the artist pursues non-materialization of works, based on the practicing nature of the human body, he does not document his works through any medium. The only medium that records the work would be the ‘memory’ of the participants and those who experience it.
This You(2006) features a female singer singing to strangers and was enacted for the visitors coming to the Healing Deck Road at the National Center for Forest Therapy, Daegwallyeong. The visitors were given a fortuitous and intimate artistic experience through this exchange
Messages From the Participants After Enacting
-
Kim Su Jeong, my story of Oct 1:
I thought that people would just pass by without stopping, but most of them actually made eye contact and shyly hummed along to what I was singing. It’s a pleasant and exciting time for me. If the rest of the exhibition is like this, I’m very sure I’ll have a very joyful experience. ^^
-
Son Myeong Suk, my story of Oct 2:
Some people were surprised by the sound of my voice and went on their way, others laughed in amusement at our shy exchange of eye contact. Some teared up and walked by as they wiped their eyes and cheek and some thanked me with their two hands folded onto each other. A few even shared a warm long hug with me. These are all gifts from the work, along with nature itself. It stimulates the release of serotonin, allowing myself to heal and regenerate. I am thankful for everything.
-
Sujeong Ko, my story of Oct 4:
Today it was such a fine day in quite a while. There was an elderly couple who said they knew something was to be performed by spotting the ribbon sign, and they listened to the performance. There also was a visitor who recommended me to go on TV, another who complimented on my voice that it’s like a bird chirping, and also, somebody saying it was a marvelous experience. These comments all made me so happy. Of course, somebody said I looked like crazy person, and there were some hikers who had no sense of communication, whatsoever. The most impressive among the visitors were a young couple because they began crying when I began singing, even taking out a hankerchief. I could not finish the song since I choked up, too.
-
Sujeong Ko:
To participate in this work for a month was like a miracle. I can’t think of a time when anything has made me any happier. Today, a young woman who came with the tour group turned around and cried a lot. Later, I realized that the song I sang was Soora Jung’s ‘I am to you.’ I wonder if my voice is that sad. It made so many people cry, but I can’t exactly grasp why. In any case, I was moved and got emotional from all those teary eyes, and it is always rather difficult to sing afterwards. I am really grateful to have this precious experience in my life.
-
Choi YeounSuk:
I am now descending down the path after the very last time doing the work. The lingering feelings from the whole process slow down my steps. Perhaps I am carrying mixed feelings of relief and grief upon finishing. It is such a precious occasion meeting every single one of you. Thank you. ^^
