Introduction

Sound artist and composer Tarek Atoui to give a keynote lecture at Dance House Helsinki, as part of The Saastamoinen Foundation's and Academy of Fine Arts's Keynote Lecture Series.

In his keynote lecture, sound artist and composer Tarek Atoui will offer an expansive exploration of improvisation—not only as spontaneous performance, but as a methodology that shapes his approach to composition, instrument building, and exhibition making. For Atoui, improvisation is a collective, open-ended process that evolves over time and in relation to others: musicians, audiences, communities, and even institutions.

Atoui will discuss how this mindset is reflected in his performances and participatory projects such as Within and The Ground, in which instruments are not fixed tools but evolving interfaces. These are often developed collaboratively with others, including d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing participants.

Atoui has also extended this approach to curatorial and spatial practices. In his upcoming lecture, he will share insights from his latest exhibition in Milan, where improvisation has served as the method for constructing the entire show. The works are activated over time, with the installation responding to changes in both acoustic and social context. Visitors are invited to experience the exhibition as a process that unfolds and transforms through their engagement. Rather than a static display, the exhibition becomes a living score embracing chance, adaptation, and continuous transformation.

Through sound samples, visual documentation, and personal reflections, Atoui will demonstrate how improvisation lies at the core of his artistic vision—not only in how sound is produced and performed, but also in how spaces are inhabited, exhibitions are presented, and how art can invite new ways of sensing and being together.

The lecture will be held in English.

Tarek Atoui

Born in Lebanon in 1980, Tarek Atoui is an internationally acclaimed sound artist and composer whose experimental work redefines the role of sound in contemporary art. He collaborates with scientists, instrument makers, and people with diverse sensory experiences to create participatory soundscapes and new modes of listening. His works have been presented at major art institutions and biennials, including Tate Modern and the Venice Biennale.

Read more about Ta­rek Ato­ui

Saastamoinen Foundation Keynote Lecture Series

The Saastamoinen Foundation Keynote Lecture Series brings influential figures in the arts to Finland. Atoui’s visit is part of an international visual arts programme launched in 2014 by the Academy of Fine Arts at Uniarts Helsinki and the Saastamoinen Foundation. In addition to lectures, the programme includes international mentoring and residency opportunities for the Academy’s master’s students and alumni.

This lecture marks the eighth keynote organised by the Academy of Fine Arts and the Saastamoinen Foundation. Held annually, the lecture series invites internationally renowned figures from the art world to share their insights and expertise.

Read more about the In­ter­na­tional net­works in fine arts