The Hyundai Commission for Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall to begin in 2015

Associated media

Tate and Hyundai Motor have announced a major new long-term partnership. Confirmed until 2025, this 11-year partnership is the longest initial commitment from a corporate sponsor in Tate’s history. Hyundai’s support will allow Tate Modern to realize The Hyundai Commission, a new series of site-specific installations by contemporary artists in the iconic Turbine Hall, beginning in autumn 2015.

Since Tate Modern opened in 2000, the Turbine Hall has hosted some of the world’s most memorable and acclaimed works of contemporary art, reaching an audience of millions each year. The way artists have interpreted this vast industrial space has attracted many people to contemporary art in the 21st century. The annual Hyundai Commission will give artists an opportunity to create new work for this unique context.

This partnership is founded upon Tate and Hyundai’s shared commitment to worldwide innovation. Tate Modern’s programme has become increasingly diverse and international, offering an important platform for art from Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, including film and live art.

Tate’s activities outside the UK also continue to grow, including travelling exhibitions, international loans from its collection, research centres and conferences investigating art from around the world.

To mark the start of this new partnership, Hyundai has joined forces with Tate’s Asia Pacific Acquisitions Committee to support a major acquisition for Tate’s collection, dramatically improving the museum’s holdings of art from Asia. The acquisition consists of nine key works by South Korean artist Nam June Paik (1932–2006). Often considered the founder of video art, Paik explored humanity’s ever-changing relationship with technology, from radio and television to robotics and computing. He is considered to be one of the precursors of the Fluxus movement in the 1960s. A major retrospective was presented at Tate Liverpool in 2010 and this acquisition is the first time the artist’s work has entered Tate’s collection. These nine works span 40 years of his career and will go on display at Tate Modern later this year.

Today’s announcement coincides with the completion of a newly built bridge across the top of the Turbine Hall. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, this bridge joins the existing galleries on level 4 of Tate Modern to the new building being developed to the south. Opening to the public in 2016, this project will transform Tate Modern, with the Turbine Hall at its heart, offering in due course dramatic new views on The Hyundai Commission.

Nicholas Serota, Director, Tate said:

We look forward to working together with Hyundai, exploring the most innovative and creative ideas from around the world. Hyundai’s commitment to Tate will give us an unprecedented opportunity to plan for the future, and will secure a decade of exciting new Turbine Hall commissions for all Tate Modern’s visitors.

Euisun Chung, Vice Chairman, Hyundai said:

At Hyundai, we understand that cars can provide much more than transportation. They can connect with people emotionally and it is this feeling that connects people to great art.  This is the nature of our partnership with Tate. We are excited about the new possibilities that lie ahead and are very privileged to be working together with the Tate on this inspiring collaboration.

Chris Dercon, Director, Tate Modern said:

The Turbine Hall has a unique place in the public imagination, acting as a stage for cutting-edge contemporary art and as an open forum for people to meet, think, play and debate. The Hyundai Commissions will allow us all to see how art continues to evolve from 2015 to 2025.