Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present

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Marina Abramovic/Ulay. _Point of Contact_. 1980. Originally performed for 1 hour at De Appel Gallery, Amsterdam. Courtesy Marina Abramovic Archive and Sean Kelly Gallery, New York. © 2009 Marina Abramovic

Marina Abramović. Point of Contact. 1980

(Yugoslav, born 1946) Performance
Reperformed continuously in shifts throughout this exhibition for a total of over 700 hours.
Courtesy Marina Abramović and Sean Kelly Gallery

GLENN LOWRY: One of the overarching themes in Abramović’s work is the concept of energy. Energy that can expand and be shared between collaborators as well as between the artist and audience. In this performance, Abramović and her partner, Ulay, created a very specific point of energy.

MARINA ABRAMOVIĆ: Point of Contact, it's very minimal piece. It's a very static piece. We are pointing our index fingers towards each other and just before we touch, feel this kind of aura and energy field for a long period of time pure presence is the most essential thing to really be in, and if you live in this presence and perform with your body and your mind, you really can reach the transformative quality of transcendence and elevate your own spirit and spirit of audience.

GLENN LOWRY: Point of Contact is re-performed continuously in shifts throughout this exhibition for a total of over 700 hours.