Since 4 October, the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall has been transformed by Philippe Parreno into a gigantic sight-specific work, Anywhen, an immersive installation that embraces light, images and sound, reinterpreting the concept of exhibition space by leveraging our sensory perceptions of space, movement and time. The fundamental components of Anywhen, which is the second Hyundai Commission at the Tate Modern, are projectors, speakers, a big screen and above all 19 suspended acoustic panels custom-made in collaboration with Soft Cells Kvadrat, three of which have dimensions of 16 x 2.5 m.
As with many other partnerships in the contemporary art sector, the installation is an opportunity for the Danish company to test a patented system of acoustic panels designed to offer considerable versatility and high performance in every type of space. Kvadrat has also undertaken many projects in collaboration with international architecture and interior design firms – OMA, Snohetta, Foster + Partners, schmidt hammer lassen and gensler among others – in many types of buildings, in which panels made from Kvadrat fabric are integrated as real structural elements in the definition of the interior spaces.
Available in tailored shapes and sizes, they boast technical features such as easy assembly and disassembly, Class A, B, C sound absorption, wall and ceiling installation, resistance to moisture and heat, durability, environmental certification (DGNB, LEED, BREEAM, HQE), and they meet aesthetic-functional requirements.
The use of panels makes it possible to differentiate the identities of the places and the various areas in the spaces, giving tactile qualities and color to a range of over 200 tones, improving the atmosphere in the room and the sense of comfort for the users. Not to mention the influence that the colour and textures of the fabrics can have on perception of light, whether natural or artificial. Thanks to the collaboration with Philips Large Luminous Surfaces, the lighting represents a further evolution of the acoustic panel system: the panels become carriers of light in which the multicolored LEDs are integrated directly in the fabrics.
