Tai Shani: The Spell or The Dream
7 August – 14 September 2025
Edmond J. Safra Courtyard
Free
- Extensive programme for a 24/7 radio broadcast announced, featuring original contributions by Cécile B Evans, Moor Mother, Cecilia Vicuña, Yanis Varoufakis, Brian Eno, Jay Bernard, Maxine Peake, Tanya Tagaq, Max Porter, Suzanne Treister, Mark Leckey, Hannah Black, Anne Boyer, The Palestinian Sound Archive and more.
- Listen to The Dream radio via Channel, Somerset House’s online platform for art and ideas.
- Programme of talks, performances and family activity for summer holidays also announced.
Launching on August 7, 2025, Turner Prize winner and Somerset House Studios artist Tai Shani presents The Spell or The Dream, a major free commission as part of Somerset House’s 25th birthday celebrations in its spectacular courtyard this summer. Centered around a striking new sculpture for the Edmond J Safra Fountain Court, this multifaceted work includes a 24/7 radio broadcast, live talks and performances, and an extensive family programme over the summer holidays, inviting a host of guest contributors to collectively dream of possible futures.
Supported by Art Fund, The Spell is a magnificent 10m x 3m sculpture drawing on the archetypal fairytale image of a sleeping figure in a glass box, featuring a newly commissioned soundscape by composer, producer and double bassist Maxwell Sterling. Resting atop a stepped plinth, where visitors can sit, gather or peer inside, the figure is animated by subtle movement. The luminous blue figure is hand painted and gently breathes, eyes partially open, at the cusp of waking from this cursed slumber. Under a spell invoking myths of cursed or enchanted sleeps that last a hundred years, a millennium, an eternity, the figure has been sleeping through warnings of present and future catastrophes, the violence of colonialism and its living legacies, economic inequality, social breakdown, political disaster, and environmental collapse. But the figure also dreams of resistance against the fairytale of empire—of renewal and new imaginaries. It invites a communal, intergenerational intervention to imagine, wonder, and dream alongside it.
For the duration of the installation, The Dream radio invites guest contributors and audiences to reimagine new and hopeful ways of being, collectively. Co-curated by Shani and broadcast globally via Channel, the radio features brand new commissions and contributions, alongside archival work, by an extensive list of artists, writers, musicians, academics, economists, activists and thinkers, exploring dreaming as a radical act of imagination. Audiences can tune in online or listen on-site in the Seamen’s Hall and will be invited to submit their dreams for interpretation and broadcast on the radio.
Lead commissions for The Dream radio broadcast include artist Cécile B Evans’ new radio adaptation of French surrealist Antonin Artaud’s play ‘A Spurt of Blood’; poet, musician and activist, Moor Mother’s (aka Camae Ayewa) piece for radio which draws inspiration from the Old Testament to address ideas of ancestry and time; and a new experimental sound piece responding to the ancient Popol Vuh: the Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life, by visual artist, poet, and activist Cecilia Vicuña, with ongoing collaborators Ricardo Gallo, Satoshi Takeishi and Daniel Neumann.
Newly commissioned contributions to The Dream radio include:
- Anne Boyer, Mykki Blanco, Eileen Myles, Maxine Peake, Jay Bernard, Max Porter, Tanya Taqag, Yanis Varoufakis on dreaming alternative futures.
- Mark Leckey on medieval metaphysics and obsolescence.
- Aura Satz reimagining the siren in an age of permanent emergency.
- Brian Eno on dreaming for the future.
- Mo’min Swaitat (Palestinian Sound Archive) on dreaming through archives and grief.
- Jason Hickel, an economic anthropologist will be in conversation with Jayati Ghosh about dreaming beyond capitalism.
- IONE and Sarah Shin on quantum dreaming.
- Hannah Proctor and Micha Frazer-Carroll on the radical politics of mental health.
- Vanessa Andreotti, Jayati Ghosh and Lola Olufemi in conversation with guests on world-building beyond capitalism.
Also featured are archival radio plays, audiobooks and broadcasts from XMTR, Montez Radio and Radiophrenia, music playlists curated by Duval Timothy, Ohal Greitzer and Sarathy Korwar, and new contributions from Somerset House Studios artists including Felicita, Sophia Al Maria and Elaine Mitchener. Additional contributors include K Allado-McDowell, Basyma Saad, Juliet Jacques, Johanna Hedva, Roy Claire Potter, Hannah Black & Bonaventure, Adelita Husni-Bey, American Artist, Gunseli Yalcinkaya, Suzanne Treister, Zadie Xa, and more. A detailed schedule will be announced in July.
An accompanying programme of events unfolds at Somerset House throughout The Spell or The Dream, offering audiences a space to reflect, gather, and reimagine. At the heart of the programme is After Illusions—a series of three live conversations inspired by the pioneering late-night television show After Dark (1987–1991). Each session brings together voices from across disciplines to explore different topics in the wake of fractured systems, including law, democracy, and capitalism, and asks what might come next. Hosted by broadcaster and academic Dalia Gebrial, discussions focus on the themes of Power and Deception, Invisible Systems and Habitable Futures. All conversations will be streamed live on The Dream radio in front of an audience.
Two special Friday Late events, titled Hypnopompic Hallucinations, will animate the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court. Taking inspiration from dreamlike experiences that occur while waking from deep sleep, the evenings will feature takeovers by radio stations Sister Midnight and Resonance FM and live music performances.
A programme of family-friendly activities will also run throughout August, inviting younger audiences to explore themes of dreaming, storytelling, and sound through creative workshops and drop-in sessions.
To coincide with The Spell or The Dream, Tai Shani has created a newly designed flag that will fly above Seamen’s Hall for the duration that the installation is on site.
Following its debut at Somerset House, The Spell or The Dream will tour to Jupiter Artland, outside Edinburgh, where the sculptural installation will be presented in the sculpture park's Orchard from 10 October 2025 to 27 September 2026. The original commission and touring presentation have been made possible with support from the Art Fund.
Curated by Somerset House Studios Director Marie McPartlin and independent researcher, curator, and writer Rahila Haque. The Dream radio is executive produced by Alannah Chance.
FULL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
Adelita Husni Bey, Aja Barber, Alia Al Ghussain, Andrea Khora, Anne Boyer, Ayesha Hameed, Aura Satz, Basyma Saad, Brian Eno, Cécile B Evans, Cecilia Vicuña, Charlie Fox, Dalia Gebrial, David Wengrow, Duval Timothy, Ear Hustle, Eileen Myles, Elaine Mitchner, Emily LaBarge, Farhana Yamin, Felicita, Gary Stevenson, Gunseli Yalcinkaya, Hannah Black, Hannah Proctor, Huw Lemmey, IONE, Jason Hickel, Jay Bernard, Jayati Ghosh, Jamie Sutcliffe, Jemma Desai, Jenna Sutela, Johanna Hedva, Juliet Jacques, K Allado McDowell, Kanta Dihal, Katie Shannon, Kojo Koram, KMRU, Lola Olufemi, Lucy Winkett, Mark Leckey, Maxine Peake, Max Porter, Maxwell Sterling, Micha Frazer Caroll, Mo’min Swaitat from the Palestinian Sound Archive, Montez radio, Moor Mother, Mykki Blanco, Nat Raha, Ohal Grietzer, Omar Barghouti, Radio Atlas, Radio Commons, Reggie Watts, RIP Germain, Roy Claire Potter, Sam Keogh, Sarah Shin, Sarathy Korwar, Sophia Al Maria, Sophie Jung, Suzanne Treister, Tanya Tagaq, UbuWeb, Vanessa de Oliveira Andreotti, XMTR, Yanis Varoufakis, Zadie Xa.
SUPPORT AND THANKS
Commission and touring presentations made possible with Art Fund support.
Commission and premiere presentation supported by Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a Donor Advised Fund held at The Prism Charitable Trust.
With additional support from Jingmei Liu and Gathering.
PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS
www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/tai-shani-the-spell-or-the-dream
After Illusions series
Moderated by broadcaster and academic Dalia Gebrial
Lancaster Rooms, Somerset House (also broadcast live on The Dream radio)
Tickets £10 / £8 concessions
Tuesday 12 August: Power and Deception | 18:30 – 21:00
How do we understand power in contemporary society? Speakers reflect on personal experience and public life to examine how deception operates at scale—and how we might reimagine power more equitably.
Speakers: Reverend Lucy Winkett, Writer and Artist Huw Lemmey, Lawyer and Climate Justice Activist Farhana Yamin and Journalist Hamza Yusuf.
Tuesday 19 August: Invisible Systems | 18:30 – 21:00
From precarious work to policing and war, AI, big tech and global finance constitute hidden systems that shape our daily lives. Can we make these systems more transparent and less harmful, or should we aim to dismantle them entirely?
Speakers: Research Scientist Kanta Dihal, Researcher with Amnesty Tech Alia Al Ghussain, YouTuber and Former Financial Trader Gary Stevenson and Author Kojo Koram.
Tuesday 2 September: Habitable Futures | 18:30 – 21:00
In a world marked by ecological collapse, imperial afterlives and social fragmentation, what does a liveable future look like? This session brings together perspectives from land work, activism, art and academia to ask how we imagine and build what’s next.
Speakers: Archaeologist and Author David Wengrow, Poet and Activist Scholar Nat Raha and Writer and Sustainability Consultant Aja Barber.
Friday Lates: Hypnopompic Hallucinations series, Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, Somerset House, Free, Booking Advised.
15 August | 18:00 – 21:00
Residents from South London cooperative organisation and radio station Sister Midnight takeover the courtyard, plus live performances by Jacken Elswyth – folk musician and banjo player, part of Shovel Dance Collective, and more to be announced.
5 September | 18:00 – 21:00
Performances programmed by London based non-profit community arts radio station Resonance FM for a second courtyard takeover, alongside more acts to be announced.
Family Programming, West Wing & Courtyard
Thursday 14th August | The Philosophy Foundation: Big Questions for Little Thinkers (Ages 5 – 7)
11:00 – 12:00
£5
In this playful, talk-based workshop, children explore philosophical questions about the world of tomorrow. Led by a trained philosopher, the session is entirely interactive and child-led, encouraging even the youngest thinkers to voice their ideas, listen to others, and wonder aloud.
Thursday 14th August | The Philosophy Foundation: Reimagining the Future Together (Ages 8 – 12)
14:00 – 15:00
£5
This interactive workshop begins with a visit to the sculpture as a stimulus for philosophical conversation. From there, young participants will dive into discussion with a professional philosopher, questioning what the future could (and should) look like. They’ll explore big ideas about identity, society, technology, and what makes a better world.
Thursday 21 August | The Hundred Club: Dream Space
(Ages 5 – 12)
10:00 – 13:00
Pay What You Can
In collaboration with artists Ruth Beale and Lorelle Aboagye, The Hundred Club – a family club that uses arts and play for children to explore social justice issues – draws on themes of crisis, dreaming, solidarity and action to create a dream space populated by the creations, hopes, fears and imaginings of children and young people. Who do you dream of being? How does this dream person, creature or force affect change in the world? A session of drawing, playing and audio recording.
Thursday 28 August | Spaghetti Club: Lucid Dancing
(Ages 5 – 9)
11:00 – 12:30
Ticket £5
After school club, Spaghetti Club, host a session introducing children to the concept of lucid dreaming as a springboard to unlock new dance moves. Exploring how slowness in dreams and dream time can be measured via movement, the playful workshop invites participants to use dance as a form of communication with the sleeping figure in the installation.
Thursday 28 August | Spaghetti Club: New Fairytales
(Ages 7 – 10)
14:00 – 15:30
Tickets £5
With one eye on Tai Shani’s sleeping giant installation, this experimental creative writing workshop lassos the ingredients of fairytales to find out what’s possible when imagination is shot out of a cannon into a juicer.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Dates: 7 August – 14 September 2025
Press enquiries: Sahar.beyad@somersethouse.org.uk / press@somersethouse.org.uk
Press images: High-res images here
Website: https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/tai-shani-the-spell-or-the-dream
Somerset House Studios Facebook: www.facebook.com/somersethousestudios
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ABOUT SOMERSET HOUSE STUDIOS
Somerset House Studios is an experimental workspace in the centre of London connecting artists, makers and thinkers with audiences. Located inside the repurposed former Inland Revenue building, the Studios offer space and support to artists pushing bold ideas, engaging with urgent issues and pioneering new technologies. It is also a platform for the development of new creative projects and collaborations. Up to 70 artists are resident at any one time and are supported to develop their practice for a defined period.
ABOUT CHANNEL
Channel is a curated online space for art, ideas and the artistic process. As well as presenting newly commissioned cross-disciplinary works, Channel explores and unpacks the artistic process, thinking and ideas that drive them. Powered by Somerset House Studios, Channel draws on Somerset House’s unique community to drive a distinctive and evolving programme of original films, podcasts, talks and curated content. Channel’s content has been created with accessibility in mind and will provide alternative ways of presenting information such as subtitles and transcripts.
JUPITER ARTLAND
Jupiter Artland is an award-winning, contemporary sculpture park, located just outside Edinburgh. Set over 100 acres of meadow, woodland and indoor gallery spaces, Jupiter Artland has to date commissioned over 35 permanent site-specific sculptures from the world’s leading artists including Alec Finlay, Andy Goldsworthy, Anish Kapoor, Antony Gormley, Anya Gallaccio, Charles Jencks, Christian Boltanski, Cornelia Parker, Helen Chadwick, Henry Castle, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Joana Vasconcelos, Laura Ford, Marc Quinn, Nathan Coley, Nicolas Party, Pablo Bronstein, Peter Liversidge, Phyllida Barlow, Rachel Maclean, Sara Barker, Shane Waltener, Tania Kovats, and Tracey Emin. A curated annual programme of exhibitions and events from leading visionary artists and emerging talents, as well as public talks, assemblies, and an active live art programme, make Jupiter Artland a thriving location for new ideas. Central to Jupiter Artland’s vision is to engage Every Child in Scotland with art through its learning and outreach programme offering free school visits, digital projects, and hands-on activities for learners of all ages. Jupiter Artland was founded in 2009 by Robert and Nicky Wilson and since then has grown into one of the UK’s most significant places to see outdoor sculpture.
jupiterartland.org | @Jupiteredit
ART FUND
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