Tino Sehgal's Human Material Takes Over Bologna's Piazza Maggiore

Tino Sehgal has created a site-specific work for Art City Bologna in Piazza Maggiore, running until May 15. The piece involves 41 'people, not performers' who engage passersby with songs, movements, personal stories, and dance, transforming the iconic square into an open-air museum open from 10 AM to 7 PM. Sehgal describes the work as '2 hours of human material spread throughout the day,' offering a unique, unrepeatable experience. Many participants were selected from a previous iteration at OGR Torino. The artist rarely appears physically at his works; his last physical participation was at the 2013 Venice Biennale, where he won the Golden Lion. Participants share intimate, true stories, such as a girl overcoming shyness about eating in public and another explaining her name Graphie, a blend of her parents' names Graziella and Philippe. The work emphasizes continuous interaction with unaware passersby, including students and tourists, who are invited to listen or take part.