Tate becomes custodian of Maya artwork without purchasing it

During Frieze London, the Tate Museum in London struck an unusual agreement with Guatemalan artist Edgar Calel and the Kaqchikel Maya people: rather than acquiring his installation 'The Echo of an Ancient Form of Knowledge' (2021), the museum will act as its custodian for 13 years. The work, presented by Proyectos Ultravioleta in the Focus section of Frieze, consists of stones serving as altars topped with fruit offerings. The Tate Fund, a £150,000 fund from Endeavor, facilitated the deal. The museum must also ensure the Kaqchikel people can perform the necessary ritual to complete the artwork's meaning. The number 13 references the 13 articulations of the body in Maya belief. After 13 years, the Tate will renegotiate custody, transfer it to another institution, or return the elements to the earth. Additionally, the Tate acquired a series of related drawings by Calel for its permanent collection. Artist Edgar Calel expressed gratitude to ancestors for allowing the knowledge to spread to seven locations worldwide, corresponding to the seven stars of the Big Dipper. Art dealer Stefan Benchoam noted the installation was never intended for sale; the agreement was reached after negotiations with Catherine Wood and the Tate Fund team.