Rhythm 0

Studio Morra, Naples; 6 hours. Photo: Donatelli Sbarra.

(Marina Abramović Archives, 2019)

During performance piece Rhythm 0 Abramovic surrenders control to the audience as she stands impassively and silent whilst the audience are invited to use various items on her body. The 72 items lay out on a table in front of her included items intended to inflict pain or pleasure, among them were a feather, rose, razor, knife and a pistol. The instructions invited the audience to use the items on her as they wished, essentially stating there were no rules.

Abramovic reflected: ‘At first the audience were calm and passive‘, they would play with me, give me the rose, kiss me…and then the public became more wild, they cut my neck, drink my blood…(Marina Abramovic Institute, 2019). An aggressive atmosphere grew as a member of the audience aimed the loaded pistol at the artist. Abramovich famously said; If you give them total freedom, they will become frenzied enough to kill you.” (O’Hagan, 2010)

Abramovic cites the Avant guarde and Fluxus movement as creative influences which: ‘valued simplicity and anti-commercialism, with chance and accident playing a big part in the creation of works.’ (Tate, 2019) Abramović. explored the unpredictable through the artist/performer relationship motivated her fascination for the limitations of human endurance. Live performance art which requires audience participation will inevitably reveal chance and accidental outcomes Abramovic’s need to take risks and relinquish control to the viewer led the audience to complete the performance.

Bibliography

Image Marina Abramović Archives (2019). Performance; Rhythm 0. [image] Available at: https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/marina-abramovic [Accessed 24 Oct. 2019].

Marina Abramovic Institute (2019). Rhythm 0 1974. Available at: https://mai.art/about-mai [Accessed 24 Oct. 2019].

O’Hagan, S. (2010). Interview with Marina Abramovic. The Guardian. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2010/oct/03/interview-marina-abramovic-performance-artist [Accessed 24 Oct. 2019].

Tate. (2019). Fluxus – Art Term | Tate. [online] Available at: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/f/fluxus [Accessed 24 Oct. 2019].

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