Tate Modern
1 September 2006 – 30 April 2007
Tate Modern is joining forces with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including The Chemical Brothers and Graham Coxon, to work on a ground-breaking project, called Tate Tracks, which will see the production of a series of exclusive new music tracks inspired by works of art on display at Tate Modern.
Music acts from hip hop, garage/grime, indie, rock and dance scenes have been invited to write and record a track inspired by a work of art of their choice in the newly rehung Collection displays, UBS Openings: Tate Modern Collection. The confirmed artists involved include major names such as The Chemical Brothers and Graham Coxon as well as cutting edge acts like Roll Deep, Estelle, The Long Blondes, The Landscapers, Klaxons and Union of Knives.
Visitors to Tate Modern will get the first chance to hear the track before it has been released because, for a full month, it can only be heard on a listening post next to the artwork which inspired it. For a second month the recordings can also be heard exclusively on the Tate Tracks website, www.tatetracks.org.uk, specially created and designed in partnership with Tate Online’s sponsor, BT.
The project will be rolled out from 1 September 2006 with a new track available at Tate Modern every month.
Award-winning and multi-platinum selling electronic duo The Chemical Brothers will launch Tate Tracks with a new piece of music entitled The Rock Drill inspired by Jacob Epstein’s Torso in Metal from The Rock Drill (1913-14). The work of art is located at Tate Modern on Level 5 in the States of Flux wing and is part of the rehang, UBS Openings: Tate Modern Collection.
The Tate Tracks initiative devised by Tate Modern, in partnership with advertising agency Fallon, will be supported by a range of promotional activity designed to reach fans of each act and each music genre. The project was developed to highlight the relationship between music and visual art and the role they play in stimulating and inspiring creativity.
Will Gompertz, Director of Tate Media said:
“ Tate Tracks highlights just how powerful the relationship between music and art can be and we’re delighted to work with so many major musicians. Each act has responded distinctly to the artwork chosen and the results are inspirational. Tate Tracks also showcases what is possible when you have creative partnerships like that with our online sponsors BT , who have made online access to this great project possible.”
Musicians taking part in the Tate Tracks project and the artworks they have chosen are:
1 September
The Chemical Brothers (track title : The Rock Drill)
Torso in Metal from The Rock Drill1913-14 – Jacob Epstein
1 October
Roll Deep (track title : Searching)
Ishi’s Light 2003 – Anish Kapoor
1 November
Graham Coxon (track title : Meryon)
Meryon 1960-1 – Franz Kline
1 December
The Long Blondes
Artwork to be confirmed
1 January
The Landscapers (track title : Vavavoom)
Brillo 1964 – Andy Warhol
1 February
Estelle
Common Sense 1995-9 – Martin Parr
1 March
Klaxons
Untitled 1980 – Donald Judd
1 April
Union of Knives
Quattro Stagioni (A Painting in Four Parts) 1993-4 - Cy Twombly