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Art

London,

Tino Sehgal

Description: Interactive display charting the ascendant artist's development.



Rating: 2 out of 5 Critic rating
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ICA Gallery The Mall, SW1Y 5AH

Phone: 0207930 3647

Website: www.ica.org.uk

Transport: Tube: Charing Cross Transport for London

Sehgal's final instalment is child's play

Tino Seghal
Child’s play: Children actively encouraged to talk to adult strangers at the exhibition

Fisun Guner, Metro 2 Feb 2007


The ICA Gallery has been turned into a playground. Primary school pupils in yellow school jerseys are chasing each other, playing games, and generally making a bit of a racket.

And, if they're not making a racket, then they can be seen hugging the walls in clusters to appear indifferently cool in the face of being living exhibits. Good on them.

Confronted with all these exuberant children, I, too, can be found hugging a wall. But then I am forced to 'interact' when two little girls come up to me. A prepared statement, in which the exhibition is named 'a success', is given by one. Ah well, this firmly puts critics in their place, I guess.

This is the third and last instalment of Tino Sehgal's interactive 'displays' at the ICA and the meagre star rating should in no way reflect the faultless participation of the children, who are just being themselves, more or less.

Furthermore, one kind of gets where Sehgal may be coming from - where else, after all, are children actively encouraged to talk to adult strangers?

But as an act of 'subversion' surely it's all a bit lame. Certainly, the typical ICA crowd this will attract are just too art savvy to think this a genuinely thought-provoking piece. For where once the pushing of boundaries in art gave the ICA its purpose, that very concept now appears extremely tired.

Until Mar 4, ICA Galleries, The Mall SW1, daily noon to 7.30pm, Mon to Fri £2, £1.50 concs, Sat and Sun £3, £2 concs. Tel: 020 7930 3647. www.ica.org.uk Tube: Charing Cross/Piccadilly Circus

Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.

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