Tarek Atoui to Create 2026 Hyundai Commission for Tate Modern's Turbine Hall

Lebanese-French artist and composer Tarek Atoui has been selected to create the 2026 Hyundai Commission for Tate Modern's Turbine Hall. The new site-specific installation will be open to the public from October 13, 2026, to April 11, 2027.

Atoui, born in Beirut in 1980 and currently based in Paris, is renowned for his innovative performances and installations that challenge traditional perceptions of sound. His work often involves the invention of intricately engineered instruments, developed in collaboration with other artists and makers, which serve as both functional musical devices and sculptural objects. These instruments frequently incorporate materials such as glass, water, and ceramics and are activated through touch, breath, and mechanical processes.

Catherine Wood, interim director of Tate Modern, commented: "Tarek Atoui has captivated audiences internationally with his boundary-pushing approach to sound. Blending music, technology, sculpture, and performance, he is a truly cross-disciplinary artist whose work references current social, historical, and political realities. Architectural space plays an important role in Atoui’s ongoing investigation into sound and vibration, and we can’t wait to see how he engages with audiences within the public space of Tate Modern’s iconic Turbine Hall."

Atoui's practice is characterized by extensive research into music history, instrumentation, and production, leading to the creation of multisensory environments that reimagine the experience of sound. He explores how listening can be perceived through multiple senses, including tactile and visual forms. His installations often combine the sounds produced by his custom instruments with environmental recordings from various geographical locations and computer-generated sounds, presented in both collaborative and solo performances.

The Hyundai Commission is an annual series of site-specific works created for Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall, offering artists a unique opportunity to interpret the vast industrial space. Atoui's commission will be the eleventh in this series, following previous installations by artists such as Kara Walker, Cecilia Vicuña, and El Anatsui.

Atoui has previously exhibited and performed at major institutions worldwide, including Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan (2025), TBA21 in Madrid (2025), Kunsthaus Bregenz (2024), and MUDAM in Luxembourg (2022). He has also participated in significant international exhibitions such as the 17th Istanbul Biennial (2022), the 13th Gwangju Biennial (2021), the 58th Venice Biennale (2019), and Documenta 13 in Kassel (2012).