Sound artist Tarek Atoui's Hyundai Commission fills the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern until 11 April 2027. Large-format 3D printing by Fab.Pub, working with Mamou-Mani Architects, produced the horns, platforms, towers and bases, some of them eight metres long. The pieces took over 14 months to develop and were structurally tested before installation.
Key facts
On view in the Turbine Hall from 13 October 2026 to 11 April 2027
Horns reach eight metres; development took more than 14 months
Feedstock: PLA and PETG compounded with bamboo
Webb Yates Engineers ran load, suspension and connection tests
Context LFAM stands for large-format additive manufacturing, where robotic or gantry systems print structures many metres in size, typically from pelletised thermoplastic feedstock.
Which printing methods made the parts?
The pieces differ widely in scale and function, so Fab.Pub used three routes. The horns, some built from several sections, came from large-scale robotic printing. The platforms were made on the transportable Fab.Pub Mobile Factory, and the towers and table bases on a delta-style large-format platform. Each part type received its own toolpaths and print settings.
Why bamboo, and how was the colour gradient made?
Fab.Pub tested several compounding fillers, including limestone and basalt, before the artist chose bamboo. The fibre was compounded with PLA and PETG into printing feedstock, giving a fibrous surface and warm tones. The colour shifts came from operators adding the bamboo compound by hand during printing, because a programmed blend looked too rigid.
How was it validated and how does it sound?
Webb Yates Engineers tested key components: loads on a printed platform, suspension of the large horns and the fixing connections. These tests supported the production and installation plan. The installation combines the printed horns with Uzbek karnai horns, bamboo shengs driven by wind, Korean drums struck by mechanical mallets and long textiles, with custom software processing the sound live. Free ticketed performances run through the exhibition.
What it means
For manufacturers, the project shows large-format printing delivering unique, load-bearing parts at several metres, with material compounding, toolpath work and independent structural testing planned into a 14-month schedule. The matching of three machine types to part size and function is a reminder that one process rarely suits every geometry. It is an art commission, so cost and series use are not addressed, but the validation route is transferable to architectural and display applications.
Frequently asked questions
What materials were used for the printed parts at Tate Modern?
Fab.Pub compounded bamboo with PLA and PETG to make the printing feedstock. The horns were printed from a PLA-bamboo material.
How were the printed parts tested?
Webb Yates Engineers ran load tests on a printed platform, suspension tests on the large horns and connection tests on the fixing system. All were reported as successful.
How long is the installation open?
It opened on 13 October 2026 and runs until 11 April 2027. Entry is free, and performances are free but need a ticket.