The Echo of an Ancient Form of Knowledge
- Artist: Edgar Calel
- Date: 2021
- Medium: Rocks, fruit, ritual blessing
- Dimensions: Overall display dimensions variable
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is “The Echo of an Ancient Form of Knowledge” by Edgar Calel. Created in 2021, the piece brings together rocks, fruit and elements of a ritual blessing, all arranged to create a living, breathing landscape that feels both grounded and ethereal. Calel, born in 1987, is known for his respectful dialogue with indigenous traditions, particularly those in Guatemala. In this installation, the stones are stacked like a quiet, geological memory, while the fruit—carefully chosen for its texture and symbolism—paints a fleeting sense of abundance and decay. The ritual blessing, suggested by the careful placement of small ceremonial objects, invites viewers to pause and consider how ancient knowledge can still resonate in our contemporary spaces. The work hangs in the Joiner Galleries, where the surrounding light and the open floor plan allow the materials to speak freely, making the whole room feel like a shared, reverent pause.
See it in person
The Echo of an Ancient Form of Knowledge is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
