Marina Abramović

Self-proclaimed ‘grandmother of performance art’, Marina Abramović (b. 1946) is known for her groundbreaking and often provocative works that explore the limits of the body, the mind, interpersonal relationships and between art and audience. Born in 1946 in Belgrade, Abramović studied in Belgrade and Zagreb and taught in various institutions in Novi Sad, Paris, Berlin, Hamburg and Braunschweig.

Abramović first performed in Edinburgh in 1973. Rhythm 10 explored elements of ritual and gestures, using 20 knives and two tape recorders the artist played the Russian game. With this piece, Abramović began to consider the state of consciousness of the performer, a through line found in many of her works.

In Rhythm 0 (1974), Abramović placed 72 objects on a table, ranging from a feather to a loaded gun, and invited the audience to use them on her in any way they chose. This six-hour performance tested the boundaries of trust and vulnerability, often referenced in discussions about the power dynamics between artist and audience, as well as the physical and psychological limits of the human body.

Abramović’s collaboration with German artist Ulay (Frank Uwe Laysiepen) was a significant chapter in her career. From 1976 to 1988, Marina Abramović and Ulay created numerous performances that pushed the boundaries of art and personal endurance.

The Artist is Present (2010), perhaps Abramović's most famous performance, took place at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. For over two months, she sat silently at a table, inviting museum visitors to sit across from her and share a moment of eye contact. This marathon performance, which lasted over 700 hours, emphasized presence, connection and the profound impact of non-verbal communication.

Abramović exhibited at Documenta in 1977, 1982 and 1992, and at the Venice Biennale in 1976 and 1997, where she was awarded the Golden Lion for Best Artist. She received the prize for her video installation and performance Balkan Baroque (1997), in which she hand-washed 1,500 cattle bones.

Marina Abramović continues to create and innovate. The Life (2018–19) is the world’s first mixed reality artwork. The work offers a 19-minute digital encounter with the artist in a dimensional photographic capture — like a hologram — performing a unique, meditative and entrancing piece within a roped-off five-metre circle before evaporating into thin air.