Tai Shani: The Spell or The Dream

Uniquely bringing together sculpture, radio, live gatherings and a host of guest contributors, The Spell or The Dream is a multi-faceted work inviting audiences to collectively dream of new horizons.

At its heart is The Spell, a magnificent new sculpture in the Edmond J Safra Fountain Court, featuring a newly commissioned soundscape by composer, producer and double bassist Maxwell Sterling. Resting atop a stepped plinth, where visitors can sit, gather or peer inside, the luminous blue figure gently breathes, caught in a suspended state, the spell. The dreamer sleeps through the warnings of present and imminent catastrophes, political and social disaster and environmental collapse – but it also dreams of resistance and renewal.

Inviting you to wonder, imagine and dream is The Dream radio, running alongside the sculpture. It convenes artists, thinkers and academics including Yanis Varoufakis, Brian Eno, Hannah Black and The Palestinian Sound Archive, to collectively reimagine a hopeful future. Co-curated by Shani and broadcast globally via Channel, the 24/7 radio also features three new commissions from Cécile B Evans, Moor Mother and Cecilia Vicuña, alongside archival work, and invites you to submit your dreams for interpretation. The Dream radio is a continuous broadcast; works will not be available on demand – tune in live or let it slip into the ether.

Programme

Alongside the sculpture and radio, a rich public programme brings The Spell or The Dream to life throughout the summer. A series of Tuesday talks explore power, deception and the real invisible hand shaping our world, asking what might come next? Two Friday Lates will bring performance to the courtyard, with music from Sister Midnight and Resonance FM, while a family-friendly programme invites young audiences to explore dreaming, storytelling and sound.

Curated by Somerset House Studios Director Marie McPartlin and independent researcher, curator, and writer Rahila Haque. The Dream Radio is executive produced by Alannah Chance, with production by Tess Davidson and Clem Hitchcock.