Lebanese artist Tarek Atoui has transformed the massive Turbine Hall at London's Tate Modern into a giant musical machine. Visitors walking into the former power station find huge brass trumpets and glowing drums suspended from the roof, while wide water basins and large stones sit across the floor.
Guests can sit, stand, or climb on the rough rocks as unpredictable sounds echo through the vast hall. The installation connects unusual instruments with natural materials: deep bass notes throb from hanging trumpets, translucent cones rise from the ground, and drumbeats ring out alongside a woman's singing voice. Pipes, strings, stones, and water basins all link together to produce the sounds.
The music is abstract rather than melodic, rising and falling to lead people through the exhibition. With its floating shapes and pulsing percussion, the space feels like an ancient, labyrinth-like city made of sound. The vibrations create a calming, trance-like atmosphere that soothes visitors even as the loud rhythms build.
By filling the huge industrial space with strange noises and hanging sculptures, Atoui has turned everyday objects into an immersive experience. Visitors are invited to wander through the giant machine, slow down, and lose themselves in the sounds.