sophilalala:

Rhythm 0:
To test the limits of the relationship between performer and audience, Marina Abramović assigned a passive role to herself and allowed her audience to do “anything” to her using the 72 carefully chosen objects on the table next to her.

Instructions
There are 72 objects on the table that can be used on me as desired.

Performance
I am the object. During this time I take full responsibility.

6 hours (8 pm-2 am)
Studio Morra, Naples

List of some of the objects on the table:
gun, bullet, comb, whip, lipstick, pocket knife, perfume, cotton, flowers, matches, rose, candle, water, scarf, mirror, polaroid camera, chains, nails, needle, brush, bandage, scissors, pen, book, hat, handkerchief, kitchen knife, hammer, saw, newspaper, bread, wine, honey, salt, sugar, soap, cake, scalpel, metal spear, box of razor blades, flute, band aid, alcohol, coat, shoes, chair, grapes, olive oil, rosemary branch, apple…

Initially, members of the audience reacted with caution and modesty, but as time passed (and the artist remained impassive) people began to act more aggressively. As Abramović described it later:

“There was this person who cut my neck with a razor and drank my blood. There was another who gave me a rose and a third person who cut my clothes and who took the thorn of the rose and stuck it into my body. They undressed me, the didn’t rape me because their wives were there…the women would tell the men what to do to me. And there was one who came with a handkerchief and took my tears running down my face.

They carried me around, put me on the table and stab the knife between my legs. And then one man took the pistol, put the bullet and put it my hand and held it to my head to see if I would really pull the trigger by pressing my hand. And I didn’t have any resistance. And then came another person who took the pistol and threw it out of the window”

“It was kind of a lesson…I’m standing there, just dressed in T-shirt and black jeans and these are the object. So you also can not do anything, so why are you doing this? What is the public’s limit to the artist? There are so many interesting questions posed for this performance. And to see how the public really lose control - that’s kind of frightening.

“What I learned was that… if you leave it up to the audience, they can kill you.” … “I felt really violated: they cut up my clothes, stuck rose thorns in my stomach, one person aimed the gun at my head, and another took it away. It created an aggressive atmosphere. After exactly 6 hours, as planned, I stood up and started walking toward the audience. Everyone ran away, to escape an actual confrontation.”

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