I went to watch this documentary at the Tate tanks, their new space for performance art, and was mind blown by Marina's piece at the MoMA. During her retrospective there, she underwent (seems an appropiate word to describe it) a performance where she would sit and look at a member of the audience at a time. There was a delineated space, in it two chairs and a table, in one of the chairs Marina Abramovic would sit waiting for someone else to sit in front of her, and then would look straight into their eyes, for as long as they decided to stay. What is most astounding about this piece, is the fact that she did this for the whole 3 months that the exhibition was on, everyday, since the opening until the closing of the museum, 6 days a week.
She gazed down and would stare at you when you sat, giving you her presence, an individualized look, and experience of being in a shared moment, here and now. Dedicating three months of her life doing practically 'nothing' yet so much. Siting still, simple, powerful.
Such a primal human connection, given full atenttion and intensified. A body and mind in full presence, encountered by an'other'.
Extremely reactionary for our western standards of behaviour, this woman stands simply staring back at you, offering herself, her time, to this excruciatingly long and painful task. 'Doing nothing' elevated to the category of art, framed in a prestigious institution.
