The artist's exhibition is comprised of several video projections, which explore how sexuality and the human body were employed in Balkan pagan traditions and culture throughout history. Abramovic researched Serbian folklore and discovered many historic instances of the employment of eroticism and sexuality to address everyday issues. Along with amateur actors, Abramovic dressed in traditional folk costumes and reenacted ancient rituals.
Balkan Erotic Epic
Marina Abramovic’s exhibition is comprised of several video
projections, which explore how sexuality and the human body were
employed in Balkan pagan traditions and culture throughout history.
Abramovic researched Serbian folklore and discovered many historic
instances of the employment of eroticism and sexuality to address
everyday issues. For example, if it rained too much the women of the
village would run into the fields and lift their skirts in an attempt
to scare the gods and end the rain. Along with amateur actors,
Abramovic dressed in traditional folk costumes and reenacted ancient
rituals. The videos examine Balkan folklore and culture, the power of
sexuality and tradition.
Marina Abramovic, born in 1946 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, is without
question one of the seminal artists of our time. She was awarded the
Golden Lion for Best Artist at the 1997 Venice Biennale for her
extraordinary video installation/performance piece Balkan Baroque. Her
work is included in many major public collections worldwide including:
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; the Muse'e National d’Art
Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France; the Stedelijk Museum,
Amsterdam, Holland; the Van AbbeMuseum, Eindhoven, Holland; the Irish
Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, Ireland; and the Kunstmuseum Bern, Bern
Switzerland. Recent solo exhibitions have included: Seven Easy Pieces,
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; The Star, Contemporary Art
Museum, Kumamoto, Japan; Marina Abramovic: The Hero, Hirshhorn Museum
and Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC; Marking the Territory, The Irish
Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, Ireland; The Hunt, Center for
Contemporary Art Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, Japan; Spirit Houses,
Bourganeuf, France; Marina Abramovic, Fondazione Antonio Ratti, Como,
Italy, and Public Body - Artist Body, The Kunstverein Hannover,
Germany. Abramovic has a substantial forthcoming retrospective in 2008
at the Kunst und Ausstellunghalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn,
Germany.
In January 2006, Tuesday through Friday from 11am until 6pm and Saturday 10am until 6pm: Balkan Epic will be on view as part
of the Art for the World Project at Pirelli in Milan, Italy. Balkan
Erotic Epic, a major monograph of the project, will be published on the
occasion of the exhibition.
Opening: Thursday, December 8th from 6pm until 8pm. The artist will be present
Sean Kelly
528 West 29th Street - New York
Gallery hours: Tuesday through Friday from 11am until 6pm and Saturday 10am until 6pm.