Marina Abramović

In this set of performances from the early 1970s, Abramović tests the limits of physical endurance and trust. What happens when the artist relinquishes control, or pushes it to its most extreme?

Across the series, Abramović subjects herself to situations of escalating intensity. She confronts pain and submits her body to external forces, including the actions of the audience.

The performances unfold like experiments, examining the relationship between performer and audience as it moves between harmony, danger and separation. They raise larger questions about the individual and community, freedom and risk. Abramović invites us to reflect on the power dynamics that govern collective life, heightening awareness of our own limits and interdependence.

The photographs displayed here were printed by the artist in 1974 and stored in a cellar in Amsterdam for nearly half a century. They have discoloured over time, providing a visible mark of the artwork’s history.