Renowned performance artist Marina Abramovic is currently being celebrated with a retrospective of her 50-year career at the Royal Academy in London. Known for her fearless and boundary-pushing approach to art, Abramovic has consistently used her own body as her medium, often subjecting herself to uncomfortable and dangerous situations.
One of the exhibitions featured at the Royal Academy is a table of 72 objects, with a sign that encourages visitors to 'do whatever you want to me.' At the age of 23, Abramovic first presented this piece, enduring six hours of intense physical and emotional challenges. The exhibition took a violent turn as participants began cutting her shirt, inserting pins into her body, and even stealing her scarf to suck her blood. Though horrified by the violence, Abramovic found it intriguing that women took charge during the piece, instructing the men on what to do and offering support by wiping away her tears.
In another daring performance, Abramovic allowed a loaded gun to be pointed at her. Fortunately, another person intervened and threw the gun out of a window, potentially saving her life. Despite the risks involved, Abramovic emphasizes that when she enters a state of performance, she becomes someone beyond her usual self, a heightened version of herself where 'everything is possible.'
Death is a recurring theme in Abramovic's work, and she constantly contemplates it. She believes in training oneself to face death without fear, anger, and with full consciousness. However, in her daily life, Abramovic describes herself as hilarious and ready to do stand-up comedy, utilizing humor to balance the weighty nature of her work.
One of Abramovic's most famous performances was her collaboration with her ex-lover, Ulay. They set out to walk the entire length of the Great Wall of China, with the intention of meeting in the middle and marrying. Unfortunately, by the time they received permission to embark on the journey, their relationship had come to an end. Instead, they decided to walk the wall to bid farewell to each other.
Another notable performance by Abramovic was 'The Artist Is Present,' held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Visitors were invited to sit in front of the artist, and Abramovic would maintain eye contact with them for an extended period. During the exhibition, her former lover unexpectedly appeared, and Abramovic broke her own rule by touching him and shedding tears in front of the audience.
Marina Abramovic's fearless and thought-provoking approach to performance art has made her an influential figure in the art world. Her retrospective at the Royal Academy allows audiences to witness the impact she has had over her remarkable five-decade career.
