
tarek atoui
1980, Beirut, Lebanon
Tarek Atoui is an artist and composer working within the realm of sound performance and composition. His work challenges traditional ways of perceiving sound and focuses on the medium’s ability to act as a catalyst for human interaction, while exploring its relation to current social, historical and political realities. Atoui’s work often revolves around large-scale, collaborative performances that stem from extensive research into music history and anthropology. He engineers complex and inventive instruments, arranges and curates concerts, performances, listening rooms and workshops. Atoui is also represented by Chantal Crousel in France and Vitamin Creative Space in China.
the ground: from the land to the sea, 2018
documentation of performance at ntu centre for contemporary art singapore, singapore, 2018
the ground: from the land to the sea, 2018
documentation of performance at ntu centre for contemporary art singapore, singapore, 2018
the ground: from the land to the sea, 2018
documentation of performance at ntu centre for contemporary art singapore, singapore, 2018
within, 2016
documentation of performance at bergen assembly, norway, 2016
within, 2016
documentation of performance at bergen assembly, norway, 2016
within, 2016
documentation of performance at bergen assembly, norway, 2016
within, 2016
documentation of performance at bergen assembly, norway, 2016
conjured geographies, 2016
documentation of the solo performance at palais el bahia, marrakesh, 2016
conjured geographies, 2016
documentation of the solo performance at palais el bahia, marrakesh, 2016
conjured geographies, 2016
documentation of the solo performance at palais el bahia, marrakesh, 2016
the reverse collection, 2014-2016
documentation of the performance at the tanks, tate modern, london, 2016
the reverse collection, 2014-2016
documentation of the performance at the tanks, tate modern, london, 2016
the reverse collection, 2014-2016
documentation of the performance at the tanks, tate modern, london, 2016
installation view of the reverse collection 2014 -2016 at the tanks, tate modern, london, 2016
the reverse sessions, 2014
documentation of performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014
the reverse sessions, 2014
documentation of the performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014
the reverse sessions, 2014
documentation of performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014
the reverse sessions. litophone, 2014
percussion set including 31 stones with wooden supports, bones, mallets and sticks
variable dimensions
instrument made by serge durin in clermont-ferrand, 2014
the reverse sessions. l’orgue à clapets, 2014
wood, metal tubes, strings, compressed air
128 x 107 x 64 cm
instrument made by thierry madiot in paris, 2014
the ground: from the land to the sea, 2018
documentation of performance at ntu centre for contemporary art singapore, singapore, 2018
the ground: from the land to the sea, 2018
documentation of performance at ntu centre for contemporary art singapore, singapore, 2018
the ground: from the land to the sea, 2018
documentation of performance at ntu centre for contemporary art singapore, singapore, 2018
within, 2016
documentation of performance at bergen assembly, norway, 2016
within, 2016
documentation of performance at bergen assembly, norway, 2016
within, 2016
documentation of performance at bergen assembly, norway, 2016
within, 2016
documentation of performance at bergen assembly, norway, 2016
conjured geographies, 2016
documentation of the solo performance at palais el bahia, marrakesh, 2016
conjured geographies, 2016
documentation of the solo performance at palais el bahia, marrakesh, 2016
conjured geographies, 2016
documentation of the solo performance at palais el bahia, marrakesh, 2016
the reverse collection, 2014-2016
documentation of the performance at the tanks, tate modern, london, 2016
the reverse collection, 2014-2016
documentation of the performance at the tanks, tate modern, london, 2016
the reverse collection, 2014-2016
documentation of the performance at the tanks, tate modern, london, 2016
installation view of the reverse collection 2014 -2016 at the tanks, tate modern, london, 2016
the reverse sessions, 2014
documentation of performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014
the reverse sessions, 2014
documentation of the performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014
the reverse sessions, 2014
documentation of performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014
the reverse sessions. litophone, 2014
percussion set including 31 stones with wooden supports, bones, mallets and sticks
variable dimensions
instrument made by serge durin in clermont-ferrand, 2014
the reverse sessions. l’orgue à clapets, 2014
wood, metal tubes, strings, compressed air
128 x 107 x 64 cm
instrument made by thierry madiot in paris, 2014
Atoui has presented his work internationally at Sharjah Biennial 9 and 11, United Arab Emirates (2009 and 2013, respectively); New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York (2010); SeMA Biennale Mediacity Seoul, South Korea (2010); the Haus Der Kunst, Munich (2010); Performa 11, New York (2011); dOCUMENTA, Kassel, Germany (2012); Serpentine Gallery, London (2012); Berlin Biennale (2014); NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore (2018); Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Moscow (2018); 58th Venice Biennale (2019); Yorkshire Sculpture International, Wakefield (2019); Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (2019); Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah (2020); Fridericianum, Kassel (2020); Bourse du Commerce - Pinault Collection, Paris (2021); The Contemporary Austin, Texas (2022); FLAG Art Foundation, New York (2022); Fondation Serralves, Porto (2022) among others.
He presented The Reverse Collection, one of his leading projects, at Tate Modern, London, and was appointed co-artistic director of the 2016 Bergen Assembly, a triennial for contemporary art in Norway.
Tarek Atoui currently lives and works in Paris, France.
serralves museum presents tarek atoui's waters' witness
Read the full review on Tarek Atoui's artistic practice by Nadine Khalil for Ocula Magazine.
The Fridericianum presents Waters’ Witness, the first solo exhibition in Germany of the work of Tarek Atoui.
The Contemporary Austin in Texas has announced Tarek Atoui as the latest recipient for its biannual prize: the 2022 Suzanne Deal Booth / FLAG Art Foundation Prize.
Okayama Art Summit is an international exhibition of contemporary art that offers visitors the opportunity not only to see exciting exhibits but also to experience the thought processes of the artists.