London, UK – May , 2025 – This past weekend, Tate Modern marked its 25th anniversary, culminating in a captivating multi-sensory performance titled “I Am Soil. My Tears Are Water”, created by renowned interdisciplinary artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons, alongside her partner in art and life, musician and former member of the band Arrested Development, Kamaal Malak.
Campos-Pons had received an invitation from TATE to mark the quarter of a century milestone.
Held in the Tate Modern’s iconic underground Tanks space, this immersive experience celebrated the museum’s milestone anniversary while inviting audiences on a sensory journey. Through music, fluid choreography, symbolic rituals, and striking visual installations, participants were encouraged to reflect on the universal themes of healing, resilience, and transformation in an atmosphere where art transcended traditional boundaries.
The performance, a vibrant tapestry of diaspora, spirituality, and ancestral connection, explored “Radical Love” as a force for regeneration. Campos-Pons, embodying the metaphor of soil nourished by a “Mother’s River of Tears,” wove together ritualistic elements with dancers, live music, and symbolic objects like plants, flowers, and fruits. Malak’s evocative soundscape, described as a “journey through sound, textures, and frequencies,” guided audiences through an emotional arc of grief and hope.
“This performance is a message of optimism in a complex world,” Campos-Pons shared. “We start with tears, but we end with possibility and the affirmation of the human spirit.” The event concluded with a symbolic gesture: a small cake made as a floor map of the Tanks, celebrating Tate Modern’s 25 years of art and sociability, alongside gifts of shells and candies distributed to the audience.
Malak, whose music underscored the performance, expressed inspiration from the collaborative process. “Everyone came together in a humble, open way. This space, this moment at Tate Modern – it’s historic. I’m already dreaming of new music,” he said. The performance also featured video projections and live drawing, engaging with the history of painting and the architectural context of Tate Modern. A companion installation by Campos-Pons, acquired by Tate from Documenta 14 (2017) and on view until October 24, 2025, further highlighted her contribution to the anniversary celebrations, selected as one of 25 works by 25 artists.
This piece coalesces 40 years of performance practice by Campos-Pons and Malak, now joined together as KaMag productions.
As Campos-Pons addressed the younger audience members, calling them “the future,” she emphasized art’s vitality as a living process. This performance not only honored Tate Modern’s legacy but also looked forward, inviting all to participate in a shared journey of reflection and renewal.
About the Artists
María Magdalena Campos-Pons is an interdisciplinary artist whose work explores diaspora, spirituality, and memory. Her exhibitions include MoMA, the Whitney, and the Venice Biennale. She is the Cornelius Vanderbilt Endowed Chair Professor of Fine Arts, where she founded EADJ and initiatives like Intermittent Rivers and When We Gather to promote cultural dialogue. She is a MacArthur Genius Award recipient and curated the inaugural Tennessee Art Triennial.
Kamaal Malak is a bassist, songwriter and former member of 2x Grammy-winning group Arrested Development. His versatility as an artist is further exemplified by his collaborations with country music icon Shania Twain, bridging genres and expanding his musical reach. Beyond his performance career, at Vanderbilt University, Malak serves as a professor at CAL ” Cultural Advocacy and Leadership”, where he teaches the popular “Hip Hop Culture in America”.
About Tate Modern
Tate Modern, opened in 2000, is one of the world’s leading contemporary art museums, renowned for its innovative exhibitions and public programs. Its 25th anniversary celebrates a legacy of art, community, and global impact.