Jessica Spencer Solo Performance 2015

The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fatty

Marina Abramovic

February8

Marina Abramovic, born 30th November 1946. Became a visual artist within the performance art industry.

Marina Abramovic

Marina Abramovic

Yesterday, in my Solo Performance class, a discussion arose regarding Abramovic. Is she really an artist performer?

Abramovic has been known for her shocking performances, such as Rhythm 10 (1973), where she took twenty knives and played rhythm roulette to Rhythm 0 (1974), where Abramovic stood in a room which had seventy-two objects that could induce pain or pleasure, and told the audience to choose.

This is where the discussion started to heat up. The question, is Abramovic’s work really art?

My argument was that yes, it was and still is. She uses her body as a piece of art. She pushes her art to the extreme which, understandably questions the artists works, but just because she is extreme doesn’t mean it is not art. For example, Rhythm 0. Abramovic stood in the room where the audience were participants. There was no influence for the audience to inflict pain, as they could of easily chose one of the seventy-two objects that didn’t inflict pain, however eighty percent of the audience chose to harm Abramovic. With no influence, they were becoming the extremist. Abramovic was the art and the audience the artist. This questions, is her work really extreme or are the audience the ones who push to the extreme.

You could also say that the real artwork of Abramovic is the discussion after her extreme performances. Years, even decades have passed and we are still discussing her work, and in my opinion, we still should.

by posted under Research | 3 Comments »    
3 Comments to

“Marina Abramovic”

  1. April 10th, 2015 at 9:41 am      Reply Martin Curtis Says:

    Major Tom,
    She used video footage of beauty contests, I am not sure if we have had this conversation,however , are you thinking of using a similar technique in your piece Jess? you in a class, a dance class at Lincoln? I think this would work well. What do you think was added in Major Tom by the film/video elements. Also the presence of the dog? can you find something to replicate this idea?


  2. March 26th, 2015 at 5:10 pm      Reply Martin Curtis Says:

    Thanks Jess, there are some interesting ideas here,I was thinking about early experiences and later developments with Abramovic.You too seem to draw on early experiences and perhaps you might explore this family angle.I was thinking about the body? Have you looked at the painter Degas and his paintings about Ballet?


  3. March 26th, 2015 at 5:10 pm      Reply Martin Curtis Says:

    Thanks Jess, there are some interesting ideas here,I was thinking about early experiences and later developments with Abramovic.You too seem to draw on early experiences and perhaps you might explore this family angle.I was thinking about the body? Have you looked at the painter Degas and his paintings about Ballet?


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