Tino Sehgal: This is so contemporary – Kaldor Public Art Project #29

Overview

Tino Sehgal. The name carries significant art-world cache. A former dancer and choreographer, Sehgal is acclaimed for his wonderfully thoughtful and engaging performance art. This is so contemporary, now on ‘show’ at the Art Gallery of NSW and running until February 23, is the 29th Kaldor Public Art Project. It's not good. Three performance artists dressed as museum guards swarm unsuspecting visitors, gyrating madly around them while singing "this is so contemporary, contemporary, contemporary".

Unfortunately, the tune they’re singing doesn’t accommodate all the syllables in the word ‘contemporary’ (except for the last line, when they really go nuts with it). The word becomes ‘con-tem-po-ree’. If you’re a fan of the English language and don’t enjoy hearing it butchered, I would recommend a Xanax washed down with liberal amounts of Sauvignon Blanc prior to approaching the gallery forecourt.

According to the press release, “[Sehgal] orchestrates interpersonal encounters through dance, voice and movement as well as philosophical and economic discussion. These works, which respond directly to gallery visitors, are renowned for their intimacy and critical reflection upon their environment." Most of Sehgal’s works are successful in this aim. This is so contemporary, frankly, isn’t.
How exactly is your average gallery-goer meant to engage with a trio dressed as guards running around them, singing an inane song at the top of their lungs before scampering off at the end? Most visitors stood there awkwardly until the ordeal finished. Two women fled. You can’t help but immediately freeze when it happens, and there’s no chance to engage with the performers as once they’ve finished shrieking, they run off. Nothing about the work engenders any kind of engagement between performer and visitor.

As for the lyrics of the short song, ‘this is so contemporary’… really? There is something oddly sophomoric about the whole performance. It is perhaps an attempt to be witty and meta but ultimately comes off as overly literal and uninspired.

The work is such a disappointment because Sehgal is a great artist. It’s like when you go to a fabulous restaurant and get a dodgy meal. You’d be fine if it was McDonald’s but it’s just so much more disappointing when it’s from somewhere you expect to be topnotch. The same could be said of Kaldor Art Projects — thus far, they’ve been sensational. Remember how terrific 13 Rooms was?

The work is silly and fun. You will probably enjoy watching people’s reaction to being suddenly swarmed by museum guards performing obscure early '90s dance moves. But is This is so contemporary great art? Not a chance.