Positioned between the fountains in the centre of Somerset House’s courtyard is this striking sculpture of a huge, luminous blue, beautiful woman who seems to be lying in state.
Get closer however, and you can see that she appears to be slowly breathing.
The work by Turner Prize-winning Tai Shani is entitled ‘The Spell or The Dream,’ and it brings together sculpture, radio, live gatherings and a host of guest contributors.
The official website has more detail:
At its heart is The Spell, a magnificent new sculpture in the Edmond J Safra Fountain Court, featuring a newly commissioned soundscape by composer, producer and double bassist Maxwell Sterling.
Resting atop a stepped plinth, where visitors can sit, gather or peer inside, the luminous blue figure gently breathes, caught in a suspended state, the spell.
The dreamer sleeps through the warnings of present and imminent catastrophes, political and social disaster and environmental collapse – but it also dreams of resistance and renewal.
Inviting you to wonder, imagine and dream is The Dream radio, running alongside the sculpture. It convenes artists, thinkers and academics including Yanis Varoufakis, Brian Eno, Hannah Black and The Palestinian Sound Archive, to collectively reimagine a hopeful future.
Co-curated by Shani and broadcast globally via Channel, the 24/7 radio also features three new commissions from Cécile B Evans, Moor Mother and Cecilia Vicuña, alongside archival work, and invites you to submit your dreams for interpretation.
The Dream radio is a continuous broadcast; works will not be available on demand – tune in live or let it slip into the ether..
Despite the racket from over excited kids enjoying getting soaked by the adjacent fountains, we found it an incredibly peaceful experience watching the sculpture gently ‘breathe. ‘
More info
Tai Shani: The Spell or The Dream
Somerset House
Strand, London, WC2R 1LA
Runs until 14th Sept 2025
Free admission
[Above photo: (c) Somerset House]
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