Tarek Atoui's 'Improvisation in 10 Days' at Pirelli HangarBicocca

Tarek Atoui (born 1980, Beirut; lives in Paris) presents 'Improvisation in 10 Days' at Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan, curated by Lucia Aspesi. The exhibition reimagines sound through sculptural instruments and participatory environments. Atoui borrows the musical term 'improvisation' to explore composition in space, using the Shed as a canvas. He rearranges works from previous exhibitions, emphasizing dynamic relationships between space, instruments, and people. The show features three bodies of work: 'WITHIN' (2013-ongoing), stemming from workshops with deaf communities, includes 'Organ Within' (2022) and 'Wind House #1 and #2' (2023-24); 'Waters' Witness' (2020-23), developed with Eric La Casa, records port sounds from Athens, Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Istanbul, Porto, Sydney, and Singapore, displaying marbles from Athens used in temple restoration; and 'The Rain' (2023-ongoing), inspired by Korean drum-making, uses wood, rope, and bronze with technological devices tied to the four elements. Atoui collaborates with composers and artisans globally, producing instruments with sculptural qualities. His practice integrates educational values and social relations, inviting visitors to interact with multi-sensory environments. The exhibition runs at Pirelli HangarBicocca, Milan, in 2025.