Espacio Cultural El Tanque in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is hosting Mundo Interpretado para Piano, a sound and visual installation by Cuban artist Glenda León, open to visitors until March 30, 2025. Curated by Javier Sicilia, the piece takes audiences on a journey through human history via sound and language, exploring the relationship between gods, religion, and power.

Based on research initiated in 2006, León compiled 214 names of creator gods from different cultures, translated them into the Braille system, and transformed them into musical notes, which became the foundation of a composition by Kiki Faxas.

In the installation, visitors can walk through a space surrounded by sheet music and a piano that will perform the composition live on specific dates. Additionally, a projection presents stories about the origins of the world according to various cosmogonies, emphasizing how spirituality has been shaped by different beliefs throughout history. Through this work, the artist questions how religions have altered original beliefs and how their political use has distorted their meaning. “If we embrace a deeper spirituality, there will be more compassion in the world,” León reflects.

The installation opened on February 8 with a performance by pianist Pablo Pol González, and additional live performances are scheduled for March 14 and 21. Outside these dates, the composition will be available through a recording designed specifically for the exhibition. Glenda León invites the public to experience the piece with an open mind, setting aside prejudices and exploring new forms of sensory perception. “I would love for the audience to enter different states of consciousness,” the artist concludes.

Photo by Fiorella Licandro Díaz, taken from Diario El Día.