Over three days, Zimbabwean artist nora chipaumire expands beyond her commission in a one-hour performance, the highlight of her 2026 Infinities Commission.
Dancers Yinka Esi Graves, Marguerite Hemmings and Joyce Edwards are joined by nora chipaumire’s regular ‘corroborators’, a group of ten Zimbabwean, German and US musicians to celebrate gadzi (shortened from gadziguru), the oldest female being and creative force tied to the legends of the Shona people.
chipaumire’s practice draws on influences from Shona spirituality, and the Zimbabwean revolutionary sounds of chimurenga. In her words, ‘The sound is air, vibration, and wind.’
This new performance incorporates chipaumire’s iconic sound-system, ‘a mountain of speaking wood’ broadcasting the deep bass of dub music alongside saxophone guitar and Zimbabwean mbira. Overseen by a wire sculpture of gadzi, the performance responds to the precarious stability of Zimbabwe’s Balancing Rocks through movement. It invites audiences to ponder: What is the meaning of balance? How do we find equilibrium? Are these even the right questions for our time?
The performances will begin in Tate Modern’s Tanks Lobby before progressing into the Turbine Hall. Access to the performance is free and drop-in - all visitors are invited to join and dance as the artists move through Tate Modern.
The Infinities Commission is supported by Glass Castle Foundation.
nora chipaumire
Born in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe – nora chipaumire makes work and creates ideas that straddle multiple imaginaries — African, black, woman. A life lived through aesthetics informed by refusal, defiance, negotiation, contradictions and more. These refusals take form of movement, objects, non objects, manifestos, sound and building a pedagogical practice (nhaka) that works the present now with the present past.
The Infinities Commission showcases the limitless potential for contemporary art. It provides a platform for artists who disrupt the boundaries between creative disciplines, inviting them to create an experimental new work for the Tanks, Tate Modern’s unique spaces dedicated to performance, installation and film. Each year an expert panel selects one international artist to receive the commission and three artists to receive research and development funding.
In 2026, the three selected R&D artists were:
Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme
Sahej Rahal
CATPC, Cercle d'Art des Travailleurs de Plantation Congolaise
The performance duration will be ca. 90 minutes without an interval. It will start in the east tank, move through the Tanks foyer and end in the Turbine Hall.
There will be fluctuations in lighting and sound levels. Ear defenders will be available for those who would like them. These can be borrowed from the ticket desk.
The performance is standing; folding stools will be available for those who need them.
Spaces will be reserved for wheelchair users and companions. Please let us know if you would like a space reserved for you.
All Tate Modern entrances are step-free. You can enter via the Turbine Hall and into the Natalie Bell Building on Holland Street, or into the Blavatnik Building on Sumner street. There are lifts to every floor of the Blavatnik and Natalie Bell buildings. Alternatively you can take the stairs.
- Fully accessible toilets are located on every floor on the concourses
- A quiet room is available to use in the Natalie Bell Building on Level 4
- Ear defenders can be borrowed from the Ticket desks
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- Email hello@tate.org.uk
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