An artist who subjected herself to the whims of the public for six hours has shared the chilling moment the experience spiraled out of control.
It’s unnerving to imagine allowing strangers complete control over your actions for such an extended period, which is exactly what Marina Abramovic did in a daring piece of performance art.
Participants in the piece were presented with 72 different objects they could use on Abramovic in any way they saw fit, while she maintained a passive stance for the duration of the six hours in her performance titled ‘Rhythm 0’.
Abramovic had vowed to take “full responsibility” for whatever ensued during the performance.
The 72 objects ranged from benign items like flowers and perfume to more menacing ones such as razors and knives. Initially, interactions were harmless, but the atmosphere shifted dramatically as the performance progressed.
Midway through, the situation escalated dangerously: a knife ended up positioned between Abramovic’s legs and her clothes were partially torn off.
Distressing photographs from the event captured Abramovic in tears.
In a 2014 interview with the Guardian, Abramovic revealed her extreme commitment to the performance: “I had a pistol with bullets in it, my dear. I was ready to die,” she declared, reflecting on the peril she faced.
She considers herself fortunate to have survived the ordeal. During the event, one participant went as far as to slice her neck and taste her blood, while others comforted her and attempted to intervene.
As the performance reached a peak with Abramovic facing a loaded gun, the spectators intervened, although it remains uncertain whether their actions or the completion of the six-hour duration brought the performance to a close.
Despite the traumatic nature of the performance, Abramovic reflects on it candidly. In a video interview on the Marina Abramovic Institute YouTube channel, she recalled the initial benign interactions with the audience, who gave her roses and kisses. However, as the performance wore on, their behavior became increasingly aggressive.
Describing the conclusion of ‘Rhythm 0,’ Abramovic said, “I start moving. I start being myself […] and, at that moment, everybody ran away. People could not actually confront me as a person.”
She concluded from the ordeal that while artists can push their limits in performances, leaving too much in the hands of the audience can prove fatal.