Join Tarek Atoui for a keynote on improvisation and participation
Sound artist and composer Tarek Atoui will deliver the popular Saastamoinen Keynote lecture at Dance House Helsinki on September 17. In his keynote lecture, Atoui will provide a broad overview of improvisation.
“Improvisation can transform our experience of both art and life. It invites us to open up – to other people, to materials, to sounds, and to our senses,” says Tarek Atoui. Atoui is an internationally acclaimed sound artist and composer whose experimental work redefines the role of sound in contemporary art. He collaborates with scientists, instrument makers, and people with diverse sensory experiences to create participatory soundscapes and new modes of listening.
The lecture at Dance House Helsinki on 17 September at 17:00 will feature videos, photographs, and improvisation. The audience is not merely invited to listen and watch – but also to feel, interpret, and engage. Improvisation is an inseparable part of Atoui’s practice.
“There will be examples of my earlier works, but also improvisation inspired by the moment of the performance itself,” Atoui explains.
In his keynote, Atoui will share insights into his artistic practice, including his most recent exhibition Improvisation in 10 Days, which was on view earlier this year at Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan. The exhibition’s installations responded to shifts in the acoustic environment , as well as to the actions and presence of visitors. Atoui offers a comprehensive perspective on improvisation – not just as a spontaneous act, but as a method that shapes his approach to composition, instrument making, and exhibition design.
He describes improvisation as a way of orienting oneself toward the world. According to Atoui, improvisation isn’t confined to art – it occurs constantly in our everyday lives. He believes it’s something we all do, whether consciously or not. “People improvise all the time – with family members, while moving from place to place, when planning schedules, or even when cooking,” he says.
About Tarek Atoui
Born in Lebanon in 1980 and based in Paris, Tarek Atoui is known for his experimental soundscapes and performance projects rooted in international collaboration. His work has been presented at major art institutions and biennials, including Tate Modern and the Venice Biennale. His pieces are part of the collections of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Pinault Collection in Paris, Tate Modern in London, and the LUMA Foundation in Zurich, among others.
The Saastamoinen Keynote in Arts series brings leading figures in the arts to Finland
Atoui’s visit is part of the internationalization program for fine arts launched in 2014 by Uniarts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts in collaboration with the Saastamoinen Foundation. In addition to lectures, the program offers international mentoring and residency opportunities for the Academy’s master’s students and alumni. This is the ninth keynote lecture organized by the Academy of Fine Arts and the Saastamoinen Foundation. The annual keynote features internationally recognized figures from the art world.
Saastamoinen Keynote in Arts: Tarek Atoui
Wednesday, 17 September 2025, 17:00–20:00
Dance House Helsinki, Kaapeliaukio 3, Helsinki
Free admission