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Discover Tarek Atoui: At-Tāriq, a Sound Installation Exploring Cultural Traditions at Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza

Experience Lebanese artist Tarek Atoui's unique exploration of hospitality and North African musical heritage through sound art.

Immerse yourself in Tarek Atoui's 'At-Tāriq' at Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza. This compelling sound installation, named 'he who comes from the night,' explores the concept of poetic hospitality. It builds on Atoui's extensive research into rural musical traditions of the Arab world, specifically the rich cultural heritage of Amazigh communities in North Africa. Visitors are invited to explore intertwined textures and sounds, bridging ancient traditions with contemporary art.

About Tarek Atoui: At-Tāriq at Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid

Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Tarek Atoui: At-Tāriq at Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid

Exhibition summary

This exhibition by Lebanese artist and composer Tarek Atoui explores the concept of hospitality through a sound installation titled 'At-Tāriq.' It delves into the rural musical traditions of the Arab world, particularly focusing on the Amazigh (Berber) communities of North Africa and their cultural heritage.

Curatorial context

The exhibition "At-Tāriq," meaning "he who comes from the night" or "the morning star," is presented by Lebanese artist and composer Tarek Atoui at the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, in collaboration with TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary. This work is part of Atoui's long-term research project on the rural musical traditions of the Arab world, tracing sub-Saharan pilgrimage and trade routes. The first chapter of this project focuses on the Tamazgha, the North African territories inhabited by the Amazigh or Berber people, highlighting their rich musical, artistic, craft, and intellectual traditions. After two years of engagement with musicians and artisans from the Moroccan Atlas region, Atoui has created a space of "poetic hospitality" centered around the concept of the _majlis_—a traditional space for receiving guests. This sound installation invites visitors to traverse the boundaries between the traditional and the contemporary, the familiar and the unknown, through intertwined textures and materials. Music itself becomes an act of hospitality, revealing nomadic inclinations and fostering a multiplicity of affinities and experiences.

Admission and ticket notes

The page does not provide specific ticketing information for this exhibition, but lists various related activities and performances. Visitors should refer to the museum's general admission or ticketing portal for details.

Tarek Atoui: At-Tāriq key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Tarek Atoui: At-Tāriq at Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid

Venue
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Current status
Open now
Exhibition schedule
From Feb 1, 2025
Artist line / attribution
Tarek Atoui, a Lebanese artist and composer, is the featured participant in this exhibition.
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