2024-04-23
Marina Abramović, the eminent pioneer of performance – a type of art in which actions rather than objects constitute the work, will recreate one of her most famous artistic performances. However, the purpose of the re-presentation of " The Artist is Present " is not only to replicate the 2010 performance, but a unique opportunity to organize a charity auction that will support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
"The Artist is Present" is a performance made by the Serbian artist 12 years ago at New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Every day, for 8 hours, Marina Abramović sat silently on a chair in the Museum, while visitors took turns being situated individually in front of the artist. For almost 3 months, acclaimed Italian photographer Marco Anelli documented the event, taking a photo of each person who participated in the performance. The 1,500 people who decided to take part in this unusual experience exchanged glances with Abramović, establishing a moving relationship with her. They included Museum visitors, celebrities, artists and, among others, Icelandic singer Björk and Marina's former partner Ulay.
For Abramović, the war in Ukraine, which has been taking place for more than a month before the eyes of the entire world, has the dimension of both a universal, and personal tragedy. The artist, whose art focuses to a large extent on the political and social situation in the former Yugoslavia, condemns Russia's actions, considering them to be a crime against humanity. As a gesture of solidarity with Ukraine, Abramović, in cooperation with Sean Kelly Gallery in New York, organized a charity auction, whose profits were entirely donated to the Direct Relief Foundation. The humanitarian organization will use the funds to provide urgent medical assistance to Ukraine. During the unconventional auction, not only was the experience of the unique performance itself auctioned off, but also the opportunity to be photographed by Anello in a portrait shot of the moving, retrospective performance. Winners will attend the event on April 26, 2022, receiving a framed photograph signed by the artist and photographer as a souvenir.