I’m teaching an online creative writing workshop. It’s been a while since I’ve thought about writing itself versus blogging specifically, and it’s been a fun change of pace. One of the things we’re discussing is vulnerability and what it’s like to share parts of yourself in your work. Performance artist Marina Abramović knows more than a little about this.
A few weeks ago I watched The Artist Is Present, a documentary film about Marina’s preparation and performance at her March 14 – May 31, 2010 exhibit at MoMA. It was a retrospective of her past work, as well as a new piece that might seem pretty simple on the surface. Marina sat in a chair every day during museum hours. Visitors lined up to spend a small amount of time sitting in the chair opposite her. Quietly. Looking into her eyes. Experiencing a moment of connection and emotion.
Watching Marina prepare for the performance gives you and idea of how grueling “just sitting” can be. She mentally and physically conditions herself to be ready to connect face-to-face with museum visitors, some who stood in line to sit in front of Marina on several different occasions during the 2 1/2 month exhibit.
What drew me to the documentary and made me press play was an edited version of this clip from the film. Ulay, Marina’s former lover and performance partner takes his turn sitting in front of her as the crowd watches on. Before I watched the movie I thought that this was the first time she had seen Ulay since their last performance in 1988, a dramatic ending of their relationship where the two of them walked across the Great Wall of China, from opposite ends, and met in the middle to say goodbye. If you look at this clip on other sites around the web, that’s what you’re led to believe. While Marina still had a strong emotional reaction to seeing Ulay sitting across from her, they saw each other for the first time since 1988 prior to that public meeting at MoMA. That took away a little of the magic of that moment for me.
It looks like Ulay is going to get his own documentary this year, which I’m planning to see. Marina is busy, and even has her final, postmortem performance piece all planned out – three caskets, one in Belgrade, Amsterdam and New York. Mourners, who will all be required to wear bright colors, won’t know which casket contains her body. Marina wants to go out energetically, in a big bold way, the way that she lives.
Watch the trailer for The Artist Is Present. Then watch the movie. It’s one that I kept thinking about days after I saw it. After you see it, come back and tell me what you think! If you’ve already seen it, let’s chat about it here or on Facebook. xoxo