Internationally acclaimed artist Tino Sehgal has risen to prominence for his innovative works that consist purely of live encounters between people in museums. The Art Gallery of New South Wales will present his work This is so contemporary, the 29th Kaldor Public Art Project.

Sehgal, who trained in both political economics and choreography, has pioneered a radical yet engaging way of making art. He 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. His works cannot be photographed or filmed: they leave no material traces. This way Sehgal creates something that is at once valuable and entirely immaterial in a world already full of objects.

‘Sehgal’s works open our eyes to a radical new way to engage with art, they must be experienced to be fully understood,’ said John Kaldor. ‘I first saw Sehgal’s work Kiss at the Berlin Biennale 2006. I was mesmerised by its power and simple beauty. This is so contemporary is one of my favourite works. It’s joyous and spontaneous, involving and engaging the audience directly.’

This is so contemporary was first presented at the 2005 Venice Biennale and this is the first time it will been seen in Australia. Sehgal’s recent exhibitions include This Progress at the Guggenheim New York in 2010, These Associations at the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall in 2012, This Variation at the last Documenta 13 and the current Biennale in Venice where he won the Golden Lion.