Tino Sehgal: This joy

With This joy, the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg (SPSG) is showing a work conceived in 2020 by the artist Tino Sehgal in the New Chambers in Potsdam's Sanssouci Park - and thus for the first time in the context of a historical palace room. Sehgal, who describes his works as “constructed situations”, has been dealing with climate change issues for many years and is committed to sustainability in the art world. This underlies his artistic approach, which is based on works that are produced without the use of material resources. In the context of the exhibition “Re:Generation. Climate Change in a Natural World Heritage Site - and What We Can Do About It”, the artist, who was born in London in 1976 and lives in Berlin, is presenting a work in which he takes compositions by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) as its starting point. This joy will take place from 11 September to 6 October during the regular opening hours of the Blue Gallery in the New Chambers (Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5.30 p.m.).

This joy activates the Blue Gallery, an impressive late work of Frederician Rococo, with historical and modern sounds and invites visitors into an immersive movement and auditory experience. Excerpts from six pieces of music by Beethoven, including the famous final movement “Ode to Joy” from the 9th Symphony, are reinterpreted by two performers. Regarding the decision to show This joy in a historic palace room Sehgal states:

“Technically speaking, this process would have been possible in this place 200 years ago. […] The palace was intended for the king's guests at the time and now it is a tourist destination. So if music used to be played without amplification for an exclusive court society, today we will do the same, only for a public [...] circle of visitors.”

With this cooperation, the SPSG is breaking new ground and opening up contemporary perspectives on one of its historic palaces, which visitors can encounter in a new way in conjunction with the exhibition of This joy. General Director Dr. Christoph Martin Vogtherr says, “More than the other palaces in Potsdam, the New Chambers were designed as a social place - for guests and events. [...] You feel that immediately when you walk through the rooms. I am therefore very excited to see how the rooms will feel when you experience ‘This joy’.”

Sehgal's works, which are shown in museums around the world, create situations of spontaneous encounters in which visitors can become participants. His works do not require objects and exist exclusively in the moment of their enactment, as they are neither documented nor reproduced in the media. We hope you will take advantage of this special exhibition and we look forward to your visit.