Janet Cardiff: The Forty-Part Motet Exhibition
Canadian artist Janet Cardiff presents her iconic sound installation 'The Forty-Part Motet' at M+ Museum, immersing visitors in a unique auditory experience by re-composing a 16th-century choral masterpiece across forty individual speakers.
- When
15 Aug 2026 - 14 Mar 2027 10:00 - 22:00
15 Aug 2026 - 14 Mar 2027 10:00 - 18:00
- Location
M+ Museum
Kowloon West Kowloon Yau Tsim Mong
M+, West Kowloon Cultural District, 38 Museum Drive, Kowloon
Highlights
'The Forty-Part Motet' (2001) is one of the most compelling sound installations of the 21st century, on loan from the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Artist Janet Cardiff transforms a musical performance into a physical, immersive experience, inviting visitors to walk among forty individual speakers to witness a sonic phenomenon.
About
This masterpiece is a profound reimagining of the 16th-century choral work 'Spem in Alium' by English composer Thomas Tallis. Cardiff recorded each of the forty members of the Salisbury Cathedral Choir individually. These recordings are played back through forty separate speakers arranged in a large oval. As visitors move through the installation, they hear the unique mix of the composition from each singer's perspective, creating an ethereal and transformative musical environment. Cardiff explores how sound can physically construct a space like a sculpture, allowing audiences to navigate their own unique paths through this tangible yet virtual sonic landscape.
Venue & Access
The exhibition is held at the B2-F Exhibition Space of the M+ Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Visitors can easily access the venue via Museum Drive.
Ticketing
This exhibition is free and open to the public.
