Mexico City Gallery Offers Free Immersive Journey Through Middle Eastern Music

In Mexico City, the kurimanzutto gallery invites visitors to disconnect and immerse themselves in "Tarab," a unique seven-hour auditory journey through Middle Eastern music. This free experience, conceptualized by Lebanese sound artist Tarek Atoui, revives the tradition of "mix tapes" with a compilation of traditional Arabic songs.

"Tarab" is more than just a playlist; it refers to an intense emotional state evoked by music, a concept deeply rooted in Arabic culture. María Emilia Fernández, an associate at kurimanzutto, explains that this state is particularly associated with the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period of significant cultural and political renaissance in the Eastern Mediterranean.

"It's essentially that super intense emotional state you can get into when listening to music, like being deeply moved," Fernández said. She described the era as a time of cultural rebirth, influenced by the translation of Western texts into Arabic, fostering a rich exchange that fueled artistic expression.

The exhibition space itself is minimalist, devoid of wall art, encouraging visitors to recline on provided seating and simply listen. Fernández emphasizes the exhibition's relevance in today's fast-paced, polarized world. "It's an invitation to slow down, to lie down for a while and listen to music," she stated. "What does it mean to sit and listen in a time of so much polarization, where there is so much misinformation, where we risk wanting to simplify everything to fit into a post? It's about returning to listening out of curiosity, with care, and choosing respect, attention, and the ability to listen to more complex stories."

"Tarab" is on display until August 15th at the gallery's San Miguel Chapultepec location and is also being presented simultaneously at kurimanzutto's New York venue. Admission is free.