abraham cruzvillegas plants stepped terraces at tate modern’s turbine hall

abraham cruzvillegas plants stepped terraces at tate modern’s turbine hall
abraham cruzvillegas: empty lot © abraham cruzvillegas
photo by andrew dunkley © tate 2015

within tate modern‘s iconic turbine hall, mexican artist abraham cruzvillegas has unveiled a monumental installation for the inaugural hyundai commission. ’empty lot’ is comprised of two stepped triangular platforms that extend across the vast space. visitors can wander beneath the terraces, travel through the supporting scaffolding, or view the landscape from above, on the turbine hall bridge. placed on the podiums, a geometric grid of 240 wooden planters are filled with compost and over 23 tons of soil collected from parks and gardens across london.

two stepped triangular platforms extend across the vast space

throughout the duration of the project, the soil is lit by lampposts constructed by the artist, made with materials found in building sites around museum. even though the artist has not intentionally planted anything within the planters, flowers, mushrooms, and other greenery may grow depending on what seeds have found their way into the soil. this uncertainty  promotes the theme of hope and unpredictability, inviting visitors to see the sculpture change from one week to the next. within london’s bustling urban fabric, cruzvillegas’ ’empty lot’ offers a refuge, where nothing is produced but where change might happen.

the soil is lit by lampposts constructed by the artist, made with materials found in building sites around museum

within london’s bustling urban fabric, cruzvillegas’ ’empty lot’ offers a a natural refuge

flowers, mushrooms, and other greenery may grow depending on what seeds have found their way into the soil