At-Tāriq

A Majlis is a traditional space of hospitality in Arab and North African homes. It is where one receives guests, offering shelter and conviviality to those arriving from afar. This ethos of hospitality animates Tarek Atoui’s new long-term research project and exhibition “At-Tāriq,” meaning “The Nightcomer” or “The Morning Star.” Inspired by the night’s association with the unknown and archaic, it invites us to gather, listen, and immerse ourselves in a shared experience of sound, music, and reflection. 

Over the years, Atoui has developed an artistic practice rooted in research and fieldwork, traveling extensively to connect with the musical heritage of different cultures. In “At-Tāriq,” he retraces the trans-Saharan routes of pilgrimage and trade, delving into the rural musical forms of the Arab world and North Africa.

The exhibition introduces us to the musical repertoire and artisanal traditions of the Amazigh people in Morocco’s Atlas region. Building upon Atoui’s compositional approach, which fuses traditional and contemporary expressions ofsound, performance, and craftsmanship, “At-Tāriq” is activated by a suite of experimental sonic objects. Suspended from the ceiling in layered stacks, these kinetic object-instruments produce textured tonalities that seem to be emerging from the mineral and material witnesses gathered in the Atlas Mountains. As they move, vibrate, or resonate, they transform physical motion and friction into sound. Assemblages of pottery, clay shards, baskets, drums, colorful beads, and metals function as aural sources, generating subtle sonic events at the limits of audibility. Made by Amazigh artisans, they carry the imprints of generations of knowledge and material sensibilities. Many of the works are embedded with sensors, motors, and acoustic components that are activated by heat, water, or interaction, enabling them to react to environmental stimuli. 

“At-Tariq” is also a living archive of Arab and Amazigh music, translated into an electroacoustic “soundtrack” composed and performed with Atoui’s collaborators. Developed during a week-long residency in Córdoba with percussionist Susie Ibarra, musician Nancy Mounir, and DJ-composer Ziúr, the multi-layered composition circulates through the objects and reverberates across the Majlis salons, drifting into every corner of the exhibition space. More than an installation, Atoui’s art expands the experience of sound into multi-sensorial encounters, attuning us to cultural and ecological legacies that echo in the present. Ultimately, the exhibition presents an always unstable encounter of traditional sensibilities and contemporary aesthetics, inviting conversations about memory, hospitality, and the poetic act of listening.