This November, Outernet London and Tate team up to showcase an exciting blend of art and music, featuring two new works by Palestinian-American artist Samia Halaby and an original soundscape by electronic musician Four Tet. The installation, free to view at Outernet’s Now Building, runs from 14 November 2024 to 31 March 2025 and offers a fresh way to experience Halaby’s kinetic art, presented on the venue’s massive wraparound screens.
The collaboration marks the lead-up to Tate Modern’s Electric Dreams: Art and Technology Before the Internet, a major exhibition opening later this month. Halaby, whose work is included in the show, is widely recognised as an early adopter of digital techniques in art. This project brings her pioneering vision into the modern age, providing a space where visitors can immerse themselves in her innovative use of movement, colour, and sound.
Halaby’s art goes beyond traditional painting, exploring the possibilities of movement and technology. Her “kinetic paintings,” a term she uses to describe her animated geometric works, bring shifting shapes and vibrant colours to life. At Outernet London, two newly commissioned pieces, Tottenham Court Road 2024 and After the Green and After the Black Dune 2024, take full advantage of the venue’s advanced screens to create a lively, immersive environment.
These works are joined by Brass Women 1995/2019, a reimagined piece from Halaby’s Kinetic Painting Group series. Originally created using coding techniques she taught herself on the Commodore Amiga 1000, one of the first widely available personal computers, these works highlight Halaby’s early embrace of technology as both a subject and a tool in her art.
To complement Halaby’s moving compositions, the London-based electronic artist Four Tet (Kieran Hebden) has created a textured, experimental soundtrack. Known for blending diverse genres, Hebden’s work enhances the visual dynamism of Halaby’s pieces, creating a multisensory experience for visitors.
Sound has long been a key part of Halaby’s practice, with previous collaborations spanning both acoustic and electronic music. This latest partnership reflects her interest in creating works that evolve in time and interact with their environment.
Outernet London’s cutting-edge screens, some of the largest of their kind, provide the perfect platform for Halaby’s kinetic art. The space allows her works to be experienced in a new way, moving beyond traditional gallery settings to embrace a more immersive format.
This project also highlights the broader cultural mission of Outernet, which seeks to redefine how audiences engage with art and media through technology. For Halaby, this collaboration aligns with her ongoing exploration of digital tools as a means of expanding the language of painting.
Halaby’s installation is part of the lead-up to Tate Modern’s Electric Dreams exhibition, opening on 28 November 2024. The exhibition features over 70 artists from across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, showcasing works that explore the relationship between art and technology during the pre-internet era. From early experiments with video synthesisers to art created with home computers, the show offers an in-depth look at how technology shaped creative practices in the mid-20th century.
Plan Your Visit
Samia Halaby’s works will be displayed at The Now Building, next to Tottenham Court Road Station, until 31 March 2025. The installation is free to visit, making it an accessible cultural highlight in central London.
Outernet London and Tate Present: Samia Halaby for Electric Dreams
📍 The Now Building, Charing Cross Road
📅 14 November 2024 – 31 March 2025
🎟️ Free Entry
For updates, follow @outernetglobal, @tate, and @samiahalaby on Instagram.
Whether you’re a long-time admirer of Halaby’s work or simply curious to explore the interplay between art, sound, and technology, this installation is an engaging way to experience a unique artistic vision.
