The grandmother of performance art Marina Abramovic is about to embark on the biggest challenge of her career -- creating art out of empty space in London's Serpentine Gallery: "Art is about taking risks. If you are smart it's very easy to find one style and do it over and over again, but then you get so bored."
Queen of performance —
The grandmother of performance art Marina Abramovic is about to embark on the biggest challenge of her career -- creating art out of empty space in London's Serpentine Gallery: "Art is about taking risks. If you are smart it's very easy to find one style and do it over and over again, but then you get so bored."
© 2014 by Marco Anelli
She will spend 64 days walking the gallery's bare halls, relying only on the energy exchange with her audience: "I never feel fear while performing but I'm in terror before. The moment I step in front of the audience it's like another, warrior Marina takes place."
Electric energy —
She will spend 64 days walking the gallery's bare halls, relying only on the energy exchange with her audience: "I never feel fear while performing but I'm in terror before. The moment I step in front of the audience it's like another, warrior Marina takes place."
ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Image
The grand dame of performance has spent a lifetime redefining the boundaries of what we consider art, and doesn't have much time for conventions of society: "I am female, that's for sure, but I'm not a female artist. An artist has no gender."
Art above all —
The grand dame of performance has spent a lifetime redefining the boundaries of what we consider art, and doesn't have much time for conventions of society: "I am female, that's for sure, but I'm not a female artist. An artist has no gender."
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
She has sought wisdom with the Aborigines in Australia, and shamans in the Amazon rainforest: "I'm drawn to indigenous cultures, nature, places of power such as waterfalls, volcanoes, and mountains which have almost magic-like energy. But I've never been inspired by other artists, because they are always inspired by something else, so that's like collecting second-hand information"
Mystical allure —
She has sought wisdom with the Aborigines in Australia, and shamans in the Amazon rainforest: "I'm drawn to indigenous cultures, nature, places of power such as waterfalls, volcanoes, and mountains which have almost magic-like energy. But I've never been inspired by other artists, because they are always inspired by something else, so that's like collecting second-hand information"
©Rahi Rezvani 2013 Paris
Abramovic, who was named one of Time Magazine's most influential people of 2014, has achieved mainstream recognition while keeping her avant-garde edge, but her utter dedication to her calling has left little space for other people in her life: "One of the most difficult things that I had to confront was to make a decision to live life the way I do. I really have had to conquer loneliness," she says.
True to art —
Abramovic, who was named one of Time Magazine's most influential people of 2014, has achieved mainstream recognition while keeping her avant-garde edge, but her utter dedication to her calling has left little space for other people in her life: "One of the most difficult things that I had to confront was to make a decision to live life the way I do. I really have had to conquer loneliness," she says.
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HB
In spite of those challenges, the formidable artist considers herself fortunate: "I was so lucky to find my way so fast. So many artists spend so much time doubting what they want to do -- I never had any doubts," she says.
Fierce conviction —
In spite of those challenges, the formidable artist considers herself fortunate: "I was so lucky to find my way so fast. So many artists spend so much time doubting what they want to do -- I never had any doubts," she says.
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