A world renowned artist known for her extreme performative exhibitions has opened up on why she ‘ready to die’ in her most severe act to date.
It was back in 1974 that conceptual artist Marina Abramović took to the streets of Naples, Italy, for her performance of Rhythm O.
The six-hour long art show was more of an endurance event, with Abramović, now 77, using her body at the core of the artistic event itself.
Marina Abramovic during the performance of Rhythm 0 (Marina Abramovic Institute / YouTube)
Abramović stood still for the entire six-hour period. Those visiting her for the show were then allowed to use dozens of objects on her body in any which way they wished.
But the event was more extreme that you might be thinking, with items among the 72 laid out by Abramović including a gun and bullet.
There was also a metal bar, whip and an axe – and lesser damaging items such as honey, grapes and a rose – with Abramović telling her audience to use them on her ‘as desired’.
Given the more extreme objects available to use against Abramović, it isn’t too much of a shock that things took a turn for the worse.
The crowd would soon become more violent (Marina Abramović Institute/YouTube)
Despite some being more gentle and respectful, others cut off her clothes and touched her sexually. One man even cut her neck and drank her blood.
The crowd erupted and a row broke out when another person watching on loaded the gun before putting it in her hand and making her point it at herself. Her finger was even placed on the trigger.
Speaking of why she did the stunt, Abramović said: “Nobody believed in performance art, and I said, okay, I want to show if I actually do nothing.
“The public, if they want to kill me, they can kill me.
“I was very foolish, I have to tell you, in that time, because I was absolutely going to the end, and I was lucky to survive.”
Abramovic did the performance back in 1974 (Marilla Sicilia / Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
For the Serbian, much of her willingness to do such extreme art was as a result of a turbulent childhood. Being brought up in a ‘red bourgeois’ household, where she was physically punished during her early years.
“I really rebelled, against family, against everything,” Abramović said. “And then I left. It was so important to me to find my own voice and to do things that I believe in.”
Abramović is now preparing to bring her Balkan Erotic Epic show to Manchester in 2025.
The show is rooted in history, where she says women would lift their skirts and ‘show the vagina’ to scare rain gods and stop it from ruining harvests.
“This is a ritual I’m going to do in Manchester with 24 dancers. So you can imagine the effect on the English,” she said.
Featured Image Credit: Marilla Sicilia / Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images / YouTube / Marina Abramovic Institute
Topics: Europe, Weird, Art
