Marina Abramović, the world-renowned Serbian conceptual artist, is best remembered for her shocking 1974 performance piece where she gave up all control and placed her safety in the hands of the public.
The piece, titled Rhythm 0, featured 72 objects laid out on a table, including items like a rose, perfume, scissors, and even a loaded gun. Abramović had stated in advance that she would accept “full responsibility” for anything that happened. While it began harmlessly, with gentle gestures from the audience, things escalated dramatically. At one point, a participant even cut her neck and drank her blood, turning the performance into something terrifying and unforgettable.
Since that shocking performance, Abramović has continued to push artistic limits with numerous daring projects, including one where she reached nine orgasms as part of the act. Now, at the age of 78, she is preparing for her next ambitious show.
Her newest piece, Balkan Erotic Epic, will take place in Manchester, UK, at Factory International, running from October 9 to 19. The upcoming work promises to be one of her boldest to date.
In an interview with The Guardian, she explained that the project allows her to return to her Slavic heritage and dive deep into ancient rituals while also confronting sexuality, cosmic connections, and the mysteries of human existence that remain unanswered.
“Through this project I would like to show poetry, desperation, pain, hope, suffering and reflect our own mortality.” she added, underlining the depth of what she hopes audiences will take from the performance.
The different acts featured in the show carry provocative names such as “Scaring the Gods,” “Fertility Rite,” and “Massaging the Breast.” The titles alone offer a clear hint at the daring and physical nature of what the audience can expect.
On its official website, Factory International explains: “Unafraid to push the boundaries of eroticism and performance art, Balkan Erotic Epic asks its audience a timeless question:”
“What are our bodies truly for?”
