Janet Cardiff's The Forty Part Motet Debuts in Baden-Württemberg at Kunstmuseum Ravensburg
From August 8 to November 15, 2026, Kunstmuseum Ravensburg will showcase Janet Cardiff's renowned sound installation, The Forty Part Motet, marking its debut in Baden-Württemberg. This installation, created in 2001, draws inspiration from Spem in Alium, a choral work featuring 40 parts by Thomas Tallis, composed around 1570. Cardiff arranged for the Salisbury Cathedral Choir in southern England to perform this piece. The exhibition is part of a broader initiative comprising three interconnected displays, which include a dialogue between contemporary art and German Expressionism, as well as a participatory exhibition designed with children. The program aims to examine how art can transform historical narratives and provide fresh insights into persistent social issues. The installation will be located on the museum's second floor.
Key facts
- Janet Cardiff's The Forty Part Motet will be exhibited at Kunstmuseum Ravensburg from August 8 to November 15, 2026.
- This is the first time the installation is shown in Baden-Württemberg.
- The work was created in 2001 and is based on Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis, composed around 1570.
- Cardiff commissioned a performance by the Salisbury Cathedral Choir for the installation.
- The exhibition is part of three interconnected shows at the museum.
- The program includes a dialogue between German Expressionism and contemporary art.
- A participatory exhibition created with children is also part of the program.
- The installation will be on the museum's second floor.
Entities
Artists
- Janet Cardiff
- Thomas Tallis
Institutions
- Kunstmuseum Ravensburg
- Salisbury Cathedral Choir
Locations
- Ravensburg
- Germany
- Baden-Württemberg
- England