Conceived by European curator Hans Ulrich Obrist and managed by Independent Curators International (ICI), New York, do it (adelaide) will be the latest incarnation of this global art project.

do it began in Paris in 1993 as a result of a discussion between Obrist and artists Christian Boltanski and Bertrand Lavier about how to make exhibitions flexible and open-ended. Would an artist’s work be transformed if others made the artwork?

From this starting point, 12 artists supplied instructions which were then published and distributed internationally. Soon afterwards, do it exhibitions were being realised all over the world. New instructions were added for each incarnation, so that today nearly 400 artists have contributed instructions to the ever-evolving project, offering vast creative possibilities for the participants who enact them. This archive includes instructions from artists such as Yoko Ono, Louise Bourgeois, Sol LeWitt, Liam Gillick, Tino Sehgal and Tracey Emin.

do it (adelaide) is an opportunity for the Samstag Museum to reach out to the Adelaide community: Museum visitors, students, musicians, local emerging and established artists, designers and Museum staff will collaborate on this ambitious project during our city’s vibrant festival period.

do it is a travelling exhibition conceived and curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist, and organised by Independent Curators International (ICI), New York. The exhibition and the accompanying publication were made possible, in part by grants from the Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation, the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, and with the generous support from Project Perpetual and ICI’s International Forum and Board of Trustees.

The Samstag Museum is proud to bring this contemporary art phenomenon to Adelaide, and is excited to be working with media partners CityMag to ensure that do it (adelaide) is a standout event in the history of Obrist’s daring proposition.

Read the catalogue: do it (adelaide).