In the late 1990s, the rather unassuming Bankside Power Station building — located across the Thames from St Paul’s Cathedral in London — was selected as the future home of Tate Modern. Few in the art world could have anticipated that the museum would rise to become one of the most visited and acclaimed institutions of modern and contemporary art worldwide.
This weekend marks 25 years of the institution which is one of the most visited museums in the world, recording over 4.6 million visitors in 2024.
“It’s hard to imagine London without Tate Modern, even though it’s only 25 years old. In that short time, it has transformed London’s cultural landscape – cementing our city’s status as a global art capital, commissioning and celebrating emerging voices alongside world-renowned artists, and inspiring Londoners while welcoming millions of visitors from around the world,” stated Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, in a release.
Marking the Golden Jubilee, meanwhile, there will be a series of events this weekend. Welcoming visitors in will be artist Louise Bourgeois’s iconic steel spider Maman, standing 10 metres high in the Turbine Hall, where it was first unveiled 25 years ago at the inauguration of the museum. Twenty-five more works of famed artists, including Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Monster Chetwynd and Pipilotti Rist, will also lead them into the museum galleries.
While live tarot readings will take place at Meschac Gaba’s Museum of Contemporary African Art, the weekend will also see performances by artists such as Abbas Zahedi, Lawrence Lek, María Magdalena Campos-Pons and Maxime Jean-Baptiste.
Several panel discussions will be held, as well as artist talks by Nalini Malani and Robert Zhao Renhui.
The several ongoing exhibitions at the venue, meanwhile, include ‘Leigh Bowery!’ which will explore how the Australian performer influenced art, fashion and pop culture, and the exhibition ‘The Genesis Exhibition: Do Ho Suh’ that invites visitors to explore works that question notions of home, memory and identity. “Anthony McCall: Solid Light” presents an immersive environment with projecting beams of light creating ever-changing sculptures.
Khan notes in the release: “The 25th Birthday Weekender is a fantastic way to celebrate Tate’s extraordinary contribution to our city, as we continue working to build a better, more vibrant London for everyone.”
