Marina Abramovic
Big Idea or Subject:
Trust
Major Theme:
Confronting the uncomfortable
(common in Abramovic’s performances)
Medium or Presentation:
Performance art
Visual Components:
Contrast, movement, line, shape
Category:
Fine Arts
Authorship:
Marina Abramovic & Ulay
Title:
Rest Energy
Original Location:
Amsterdam, Netherlands 1980
Description/Interpretation
In the video of the performance titled Rest Energy by artists Marina Abramovic and Ulay you see the two performers stand a few feet away from the other, facing towards and looking at one another. The woman is holding the front of the bow, pulling it towards herself as she begins to lean back. In the string the arrow is knocked and the man is also leaning backwards, pulling the string towards him. This causes danger for the woman, because if the string is let go of, this would mean the arrow would be launched forward, piercing the arrow through her chest, possibly her heart. This performance piece is potentially deadly. The performers had microphones placed near their hearts, and you can hear that they are both uneasy. If this man made the wrong move, she could be dead. She has trusted him with her entire life. She looks into his eyes, not at the bow.
Use in Teaching:
If I were to use this in a classroom I would use this with caution- because the performance does involve a weapon. I would use this example in a mature classroom and speak to the students about safety. However, I do think this is a great piece and would be a good introduction to students on the power of performance art. Marina Abramovic is a great performance artist, and has many more like this. However, for me, this is one of her more powerful performances in my eyes. Some of the questions I would ask my students would include: What emotions went through your head during the performance? What emotions do you think the artists were feeling/what do you think they may have been thinking? Why would the artists choose to do this? What do you think the meaning behind this would be? Why would an artist choose to do a live performance rather than take a photo, video, or paint the scene? After giving them these questions I would try to survey their thoughts on performance work, and what ideas they might have for their own performance pieces (no weapons/violence!). As a class we would also likely talk about the subject and theme of the performance, or what the students may think (discuss possible answers, rather than give the answer away) the art about.
Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcaaVZrUC44
Trust
Major Theme:
Confronting the uncomfortable
(common in Abramovic’s performances)
Medium or Presentation:
Performance art
Visual Components:
Contrast, movement, line, shape
Category:
Fine Arts
Authorship:
Marina Abramovic & Ulay
Title:
Rest Energy
Original Location:
Amsterdam, Netherlands 1980
Description/Interpretation
In the video of the performance titled Rest Energy by artists Marina Abramovic and Ulay you see the two performers stand a few feet away from the other, facing towards and looking at one another. The woman is holding the front of the bow, pulling it towards herself as she begins to lean back. In the string the arrow is knocked and the man is also leaning backwards, pulling the string towards him. This causes danger for the woman, because if the string is let go of, this would mean the arrow would be launched forward, piercing the arrow through her chest, possibly her heart. This performance piece is potentially deadly. The performers had microphones placed near their hearts, and you can hear that they are both uneasy. If this man made the wrong move, she could be dead. She has trusted him with her entire life. She looks into his eyes, not at the bow.
Use in Teaching:
If I were to use this in a classroom I would use this with caution- because the performance does involve a weapon. I would use this example in a mature classroom and speak to the students about safety. However, I do think this is a great piece and would be a good introduction to students on the power of performance art. Marina Abramovic is a great performance artist, and has many more like this. However, for me, this is one of her more powerful performances in my eyes. Some of the questions I would ask my students would include: What emotions went through your head during the performance? What emotions do you think the artists were feeling/what do you think they may have been thinking? Why would the artists choose to do this? What do you think the meaning behind this would be? Why would an artist choose to do a live performance rather than take a photo, video, or paint the scene? After giving them these questions I would try to survey their thoughts on performance work, and what ideas they might have for their own performance pieces (no weapons/violence!). As a class we would also likely talk about the subject and theme of the performance, or what the students may think (discuss possible answers, rather than give the answer away) the art about.
Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcaaVZrUC44
This is a video that begins with the performance that is referenced in the VCDB above, and continues by talking more about Marina's career in art an personal life.
View more artwork by Marina Abramovic:
Additionally, there is a very interesting documentary on Marina Avbramovic. Below is a trailer video for the documentary that came out in 2012.