the tanks at tate modern by herzog & de meuron

the tanks at tate modern by herzog & de meuron image © REUTERS/luke macgregor, image courtesy of the telegraph

‘the tanks’ at the tate modern designed by swiss architectural duo herzog & de meuron has just opened to the public in london, england as part of the current london 2012 festival in conjunction with the cultural olympiad. the first stage to reach completion of the ongoing ‘tate modern project’, this phase is a redevelopment of three industrial chambers which have remained unused since the 1981 decommissioning of the bankside power station. a future structure will be adjoined to the southern edge of the existing building, expanding the exhibition areas for the cultural institution by 60% and broadening the programmatic spread of the sectors of photography, performance and video.

a site-specific installation featuring a new work by korean artist sung hwan kim is the first to be integrated into the space. responding to the architecture, his piece interweaves personal history, fantasy, rumor, politics and culture. the permanent galleries will also be dedicated to live art exhibits, performance and film.

the tanks at tate modern photocredit: tate photography

the tanks at tate modern photocredit: tate photography

sung hwan kim the tanks commission, 2012 installation view © sung hwan kim photocredit: tate photography

sung hwan kim the tanks commission, 2012 installation view © sung hwan kim photocredit: tate photography

sung hwan kim the tanks commission, 2012 installation view © sung hwan kim photocredit: tate photography

sung hwan kim the tanks commission, 2012 installation view © sung hwan kim photocredit: tate photography

fase: four movements to the music of steve reich, tate modern, 2012 © anne teresa de keersmaeker photocredit: hugo glendinning

fase: four movements to the music of steve reich, tate modern, 2012 © anne teresa de keersmaeker photocredit: hugo glendinning

fase: four movements to the music of steve reich, tate modern, 2012 © anne teresa de keersmaeker photocredit: hugo glendinning

light music 1975 installation view, tate modern 18 july – 28 october 2012 © lis rhodes photocredit: tate photography

light music 1975 installation view, tate modern 18 july – 28 october 2012 © lis rhodes photocredit: tate photography

the crystal quilt 1985-7 (installation view, tate modern, 2012) © suzanne lacy photocredit: tate photography

the crystal quilt 1985-7 (installation view, tate modern, 2012) © suzanne lacy photocredit: tate photography

image © ray tang / rex features