Tania Bruguera

The exhibition titled "10,143,286" by artist Tania Bruguera will be shown in the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern from October 1 of this year to February 24 of 2019. The Cuban artist and activist has created a series of subtle interventions in and around Tate Modern in response to the migratory crisis. As result, the exhibition title represents an ever-increasing figure: the number of people who have migrated from one country to another last year added to the number of migrant deaths recorded so far this year—as indicator of the sheer scale of mass migration and its risks. Rather than printing it on posters and labels, the ever-changing numerical title is directly stamped on the visitors' hands. While such data can seem anonymous and overwhelming, Bruguera personalizes it by focusing on the acts of individuals. For this proposal, Bruguera had a group of 21 people—neighbors who live and work nearby Tate Modern—to explore how the museum can learn from and adapt to its local community. As result, the group decided to temporarily rename Tate Modern's Boiler House building in honor of local activist Natalie Bell. The renaming, which will be in effect for the period of one year, recognizes the value of community work for society. This idea is further explored in a manifest authored by the neighbors that proposes a culture of connection and shared commitment, which automatically appears when visitors connect to the free Wi-Fi available in the gallery. The Turbine Hall features an interactive installation that consists of a large heat-sensitive floor. The accumulated heat generated by the bodies of visitors reveals a hidden portrait of Yousef, a young man who left Syria in 2011 to come to London. The surface also leaves an impression of the visitor's body upon contact. Meanwhile, a low-frequency sound, created in collaboration with musician and Hyperdub Records founder Steve Goodman (aka Kode9), fills the space with a disconcerting energy. An adjacent small room contains an airborne organic compound that makes visitors cry, provoking what Bruguera describes as "forced empathy." The changing numerical title is taken from data provided by the Missing Migrants Project of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This project is part of the Hyundai Commission, a series of site-specific projects created for the Turbine Hall by renowned international artists, as part of the partnership between Tate and Hyundai Motor. The exhibition by Tania Bruguera is curated by Catherine Wood, Senior Curator of International Art (Performance) and Isabella Maidment, Assistant Curator of Performance. Tania Bruguera also contributed to shape the program of events and activities for the space located on the fifth floor of Tate Modern's Blavatnik Building. Tania Bruguera delves into "the role of emotions in politics." Her main interests are institutional power, borders and migration. Her work spans performance, events, action, film, installation, sculpture, writing and teaching, in addition to site-specific projects. She often intends to generate change through her work. She calls this approach Arte Útil (useful art), in which people participate as users rather than as spectators.