Santiago Sierra 'In Conversation' with Hans Ulrich Obrist Part I

Santiago Sierra talks to Hans Ulrich Obrist about his newly opened exhibition 'Dedicated to the Workers and Unemployed', on show at Lisson Gallery 1 February -- 3 March 2012.

The exhibition featured fifty-three videos that fall into three distinctive groups; performance based works, video documents of sculptural projects and programmed films.

Addressing situations of exploitation and marginalisation, Sierra's work can be seen as provocative and often spark controversy, especially those in which underprivileged individuals are paid for performing degrading or uncomfortable actions.

Eschewing notions of the politically correct, Sierra forces us to question the commodification of life, exposing and challenging the structures of power that operate in society. The essence of these works is often in the tension generated and sustained between the event or its documentation and the spectator.

When accused of exploitation and sensationalism, Sierra responds that he is merely representing the commercial conditions of our existence, that we are uncomfortable confronting. In doing so he has created a body of work that rescues and renews the expressive power of Minimalism and Conceptualism, with a political charge that encourages reflection on Western art while denouncing our current situation.

Santiago Sierra (b.1966) Madrid. Solo exhibitions include Centro-Museo de Art Contemporneo Basco, Victoria (2011); Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane (2010); Magasin3 Stockholm Konstall (2009), Kestnergesellschaft Hannover (2005), Kunsthaus Bregenz (2004), Ikon Gallery, Birmingham (2003) and Spanish Pavillion, 50th Venice Biennal (2003). Group exhibitions include The Welcome Trust, London (2011); Performa, New York (2009); Tate Modern, London (2008); Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna (2007).