Himid decides to place the spectators at the center of the exhibition, asking them questions and inviting them to make considerations about their surroundings, history, personal relationships and the conflicts that shape the lives we lead. Alongside a series of works dealing with the theme of architecture and its space, the artist asks the audience, “We live in clothes, we live in buildings. Do they fit us?”.
The exhibition offers an opportunity to admire Himid’s career in its entirety, through the presentation of more than 50 works that combine painting, everyday objects, poetic texts and sounds.
‘I have always thought that my work begins when people go to see it. Before that nothing starts.’
The audience will enjoy the dialogue between early installations, such as the famous “A Fashion Marriage” from 1984, and the recent series of paintings “Le Rodeur” produced between 2016 and 2018. Her new works created during the lockdown period will also be presented for the first time.
The presence of sound installations, including “Blue Grid Test” created in collaboration with artist Magda Stawaraska-Beavan, and exhibited for the first time in the UK, It is the highest expression of the artist’s world. This work manages to embrace visual and sonic art, layering instrumental music to Himid’s voice that confronts visitors with the thought, “What does love sound like?”
The exhibition is open to visitors from November 25th to July 3rd at Tate Modern, London.