Turbine Hall becomes canvas

As part of its free arts programme in partnership with UNIQLO, Tate Modern unveils UNIQLO Tate Play: The Flooded Garden. The project invites visitors of all ages to contribute to a huge, evolving painting in the Turbine Hall, led by artist Oscar Murillo. Inspired by Claude Monet’s Water Lilies, the collaborative artwork features wave-like brushstrokes in deep blues, bright yellows and pinks, reflecting Murillo’s Surge series.

Visitors are welcomed into a curvilinear structure framed by towering canvases, already adorned with messages and drawings from international guests. This immersive experience encourages visitors to leave their mark, creating an ever-evolving masterpiece. In addition, Murillo has invited a group of Colombian musicians, Mar, Rio y Cordillera, to perform weekly, filling the hall with the traditional sounds of the Colombian Pacific.

An exhibition in the South Tank features Murillo’s Surge paintings, which explore themes of social blindness and the facades of beauty. The installation Mesmerizing Beauty 2024 features plastic garden chairs holding framed works on paper, evoking community gatherings and political protests. This work will be activated on August 1st by performers who will respond to the drawings with words such as ‘strike’ and ‘protest’.

UNIQLO Tate Play, inspired by the belief that art and play are for everyone, will commission large-scale projects from renowned artists until 2021. Supported by UNIQLO until 2029, the programme continues to encourage creativity and participation from visitors of all ages. Oscar Murillo’s transformative project is free and open to the public.