uglyteens:

Rhythm 0, 1974

To test the limits of the relationship between performer and audience, Abramović developed one of her most challenging (and best-known) performances. She assigned a passive role to herself, with the public being the force which would act on her.

Abramović had placed upon a table 72 objects that people were allowed to use (a sign informed them) in any way that they chose. Some of these were objects that could give pleasure, while others could be wielded to inflict pain, or to harm her. Among them were a rose, a feather, honey, a whip, scissors, a scalpel, a gun and a single bullet. For six hours the artist allowed the audience members to manipulate her body and actions.

Initially, members of the audience reacted with caution and modesty, but as time passed (and the artist remained impassive) people began to act more aggressively. As Abramović described it later:

“What I learned was that… if you leave it up to the audience, they can kill you.” … “I felt really violated: they cut up my clothes, stuck rose thorns in my stomach, one person aimed the gun at my head, and another took it away. It created an aggressive atmosphere. After exactly 6 hours, as planned, I stood up and started walking toward the audience. Everyone ran away, to escape an actual confrontation.”

This is both beautiful and disgusting, I love performance artists.

1. thegovernmenttotallysucks liked this
2. yodasithfoor reblogged this from vinegarwilliams
3. duckydoo reblogged this from pteris
4. purlprynne liked this
5. fyeahalan liked this
6. hangthesilver liked this
7. thevampjane liked this
8. crows-hips reblogged this from ssshhhhhhhh
9. pteris reblogged this from ssshhhhhhhh
10. weirdgrrrl reblogged this from ssshhhhhhhh
11. ssshhhhhhhh reblogged this from theaveragequail
12. vinegarwilliams liked this
13. vinegarwilliams reblogged this from devendras-mistress and added:

    Human vandalism.

14. allthislife liked this
15. sharquaouia liked this
16. popmuslim liked this
17. joeymcchipmunk liked this
18. devendras-mistress reblogged this from ragata and added:

    The Artist is Present are

19. lautumia reblogged this from ragata
20. phofilmfan reblogged this from ragata
21. thingslefttosay reblogged this from ragata
22. rascalriot reblogged this from elephantcat
23. kaash liked this
24. yahmonyummy liked this
25. olivefuxwidit liked this
26. thedemoncactus reblogged this from ragata
27. machiavelliandfriends liked this
28. anjimenez reblogged this from passingthroughgalaxies
29. dieintherain reblogged this from verymerryhappyunbirthdaytoyou
30. verymerryhappyunbirthdaytoyou reblogged this from ragata
31. am33na reblogged this from ragata
32. passingthroughgalaxies reblogged this from ragata
33. ilikefunnyfaces reblogged this from ragata
34. andrewronck reblogged this from chelseacarringtonftw
35. powderedhand liked this
36. theaveragequail reblogged this from ragata
37. leatherbullets reblogged this from ragata
38. 24168 reblogged this from ragata
39. shelbyanneallison reblogged this from ragata
40. losojosdelesqueleto reblogged this from ragata
41. chelseacarringtonftw reblogged this from ragata
42. karsk liked this
43. This was featured in #Politics
44. sexyknees reblogged this from yatelboa
45. dellavestruz liked this
46. diveinme liked this
47. undefinedinfinity reblogged this from loveisthewateroflife
48. undefinedinfinity liked this
49. thysfunktional liked this
50. pax-caelestis liked this
51. Show more notesLoading...