Tino Sehgal Solo Exhibition — Leeum Samsung Museum of Art, Seoul
German conceptual artist Tino Sehgal brings his first solo Korean exhibition to Leeum Samsung Museum of Art. Photography, objects, and catalogs are banned — the show exists only as 'constructed situations' where trained performers interact with visitors through conversation, song, and dance. Eight works spanning 25 years are presented.
Tino Sehgal Solo Exhibition — Leeum Samsung Museum of Art, Seoul
An Exhibition You Cannot Photograph
Tino Sehgal is one of contemporary art’s most provocative conceptualists — and his work comes with a strict rule: no photography, no video, no objects to take home, no catalogs to buy. His constructed situations exist only in the present moment of encounter between performer and visitor. At Leeum Samsung Museum of Art, eight works spanning 25 years of his practice are on display.
How It Works
Trained performers — dancers, actors, children, and adults — engage visitors through conversation, song, movement, or argument depending on which work you’re in. You might be asked a philosophical question, drawn into a spontaneous debate, or watched in silence. The experience is unsettling, funny, and unlike anything else in a conventional museum setting.
Why It’s Worth Experiencing
Sehgal’s work has been shown at the Guggenheim, Tate Modern, and the Venice Biennale, but its ephemeral nature means most people have never encountered it. Leeum’s presentation is his first dedicated solo show in Korea. For visitors interested in performance, conceptual art, or simply something genuinely different from gallery norms, this is a rare opportunity.
Visiting Leeum
Leeum Samsung Museum of Art is in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu. The nearest subway is Hangangjin Station on Line 6 (Exit 1), about a 5-minute walk uphill. The museum building itself — designed by Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel, and Rem Koolhaas in three separate structures — is worth seeing in its own right. Closed Mondays. Advance ticket booking recommended.
