Press Release – Monumental Rock Landscapes at Tate Modern: Berlin Studio Art Team Berlin Brings Nora Chipaumire’s ‘Gadzi’ to Life

Berlin/London, June 2026 – Berlin-based studio Art Team Berlin has designed and realised the surface textures for ‘Gadzi’, a novel installation at Tate Modern. The work, created by Zimbabwean artist Nora Chipaumire, is currently on display in the London museum’s East Tank. Utilising a specialised multi-layered process, the Berlin studio has given the monumental rock formations a remarkably lifelike geological materiality and surface structure.

‘Gadzi’ (representing the ancestral female primal force in Shona mythology) draws inspiration from Zimbabwe’s legendary Balancing Rocks. The installation fuses sculpture, space, and sound into a living organism, with traditional Chimurenga music echoing around the structures. Visitors are invited to touch the rocks and physically experience the sound vibrating through them.

Artisan Precision in the East Tank

Working closely with Nora Chipaumire and under the direction of scenic artist Jan Pietschker, Art Team Berlin oversaw the entire surface design, modelling, and colour treatment of all the stone elements. Berlin sculptors Irene Pätzug, Marcus Wittmers, and Gunnar Zimmer were responsible for fabricating the rocks, collaborating with the artist to design the overall scenography. Following initial work at the Savvy creative space in Berlin-Wedding in April 2026, the final staging was completed on-site in London this May. A multi-layered spray technique was used to create a deceptively realistic imitation of natural stone across the sculptures.

About Art Team Berlin and the Project

Based in the Urban Tech Republic (formerly Tegel Airport), Art Team Berlin is a studio of scenic artists, artisans, and prosthetic FX specialists. The company develops visual concepts for film, theatre, and museums, translating them into physically immersive spaces.

The exhibition was created as part of Tate Modern’s Infinities Commission, a commissioning programme dedicated to innovative projects within performance and spatial design.

Press

Tagesschau, Bild des Tages 02. Juni 2026: https://www.tagesschau.de/multimedia/bilder

Photos

Process images: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_o2XMBdb6ItaxBxpVi3wrYu7x8O1-QnS?usp=sharing

Official stock images: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/nora-chipaumire%3A-Gadzi.html?sortBy=relevant