Concepts and Practices of Delegated Performance: Tino Sehgal's Constructed Situations

In this paper I conduct an analysis of Tino Sehgal’s performances. This artist represents the tendency of participatory art, which is referred to engaging audiences in the creation of the art piece. The general purpose of this project is to attempt to classify different perspectives to his works, specifically considering the concepts proposed by Claire Bishop. The preliminary study showed that few works apply the conceptual system concerning delegated performance—which is the act of hiring people to perform their identity instead of the author’s—to Sehgal’s works although he is one of the major artists of this area. In the first part I aim to explore the boundaries and volume of the term delegated performance. I will also consider other frameworks to provide a complete picture. In the second part I try to evaluate Tino Sehgal’s situations and put them in context. With the help of previously discussed concepts I try to situate his performances and give them interpretation. The results that are likely to be obtained consider whether Sehgal’s work stay in aesthetic realm or act like political statements.