Hyundai Commission 2026: Tarek Atoui at Tate Modern

The vast industrial interior of Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall is set to find its own voice as Lebanese artist and composer Tarek Atoui takes over the London museum’s iconic space. Opening on October 13, 2026, this large-scale sound installation is created for the 11th Hyundai Commission, bringing together experimental musical instruments, sculptural structures, and acoustic experiences that extend beyond conventional listening. Atoui approaches the architecture itself as an instrument, exploring how sound travels through space, materials, and the human body.

Born in Beirut in 1980 and based in Paris, Atoui has spent over two decades challenging the boundaries between music, sculpture, and performance. His practice involves inventing and reinventing musical instruments alongside craftspeople, engineers, and fellow artists. Glass, water, ceramics, and unconventional mechanical systems frequently appear in his work, producing sounds through touch, movement, breath, or vibration.

For his latest commission, Atoui has developed four families of instruments selected for their relationship with the Turbine Hall’s proportions and acoustics. These include traditional Asian sheng instruments activated through computer-controlled air systems, oversized Central Asian karnai horns produced using 3D printing, large Korean drums, and specially developed experimental textiles.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Particularly intriguing are the large fabric elements developed with Satoshi Kondo and Issey Miyake, coated with conductive graphite paint to act as sound-generating oscillators. Additionally, stone slabs containing speakers transmit vibrations directly through their surfaces, allowing visitors to physically feel sonic frequencies. The exhibition is curated by Nabila Abdel Nabi and Dina Akhmadeeva.