2020-12-12:
Marina Abramović

Content warning: sexual assault, bodily harm

Abramović is a Serbian performance artist known for her extreme works related to the body and endurance.

In the 1974 performance Rhythm 0, she stood still next to a table with 72 objects, and a sign gave the following instructions:

Instructions.
There are 72 objects on the table that one can use on me as desired.
Performance.
I am the object.
During this period I take full responsibility.

Duration: 6 hours (8 pm – 2 am).

Visitors started out gently, moving her limbs, or decorating her. But soon, people started cutting her clothes and her skin, sexually assaulted her and threatened her with the loaded pistol. She later said: "After exactly 6 hours, as planned, I stood up and started walking toward the audience. Everyone ran away, to escape an actual confrontation."

In The Artist Is Present in 2010, she sat at a table in the Museum of Modern Art over the course of two weeks, inviting visitors to sit opposite to her. She would then look at them, silently. Most visitors only sat for a few minutes, but some sat for a full day.

If you want to learn more about her and work, I can recommend this documentary!