Marina Abramović in MoMA: a Legacy of Performance and Presence

"The Artist is Present"

May 2010 Museum of Modern Art, New York

Known as the the biggest exhibition of performance art in the history of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, with more than fifty exhibited works produced within four decades, Marina Abramović's "The Artist is Present" serves as a legacy of performance history and artist expression. 

During the exhibition (May 14-May 31, 2010), Abramović performed a new work, which represents "the longest duration of time that she has performed a single solo piece"(MoMA). The artist sat in the atrium of the museum and visitors had the chance to face the legendary performer. The static performance portrays Abramović's desire to push boundaries and provoke the audience. Limiting and staged, on a first level, the performance remains engraved in the visitors mind. 

Starring at the unknown and expecting the unexpected are some of the feelings associated with Abramović's new performance. Questions such as: 'What will happen next?'; 'Will something happen?'; 'When will it happen?' arise while looking at the static presence of the artist. The timeless feeling of belonging and the trivial image of a woman sitting on a dining table is juxtaposed with the Victorian dress that she is wearing. The physical presence of the female body suggests an association with a classical painting that came alive. Nevertheless, the isolation of the artist from the wide audience serves as a metaphor of 'the other'. For the bravest members of the audience, crossing the white line and entering the sacred space is both frightening and exciting. The moment when a member of the audience crosses the line, he/she becomes part of the spectacle. 

 

If you need to learn more about Abramović and her other works, please visit

Marina Abramović page provides visitors with Abramović's bio, over 90 of her works, exclusive articles, and up-to-date Abramović exhibition listings. The page also includes related artists and categories, allowing viewers to discover various artists.

Kristin Linklater in Bulgaria: voice, identity and message

During the 4th Teachers Academy, June 2009, organized by ELIA (The European League of Institutes of the Arts), Kristin Linklater was invited as one of the key speakers and special guests in this four day event. In her Keynote speech, delivered at the opening ceremony of the Teachers Academy, she emphasized the importance of the voice serving as a tool to successfully communicate a story. 

In storytelling, the voice serves to communicate the speaker's message and view of the world. Kristin Linklater continues to explains how the words can carry different strategies and aims. Nevertheless, the voice of the speaker is of primal importance on how the listener perceives the message. When it comes to determine whether voice, words or message have the greater impact on the listener, Linklater (2009) states: 

"It is our voices that carry our foundational identity, it is our voices that command the attention of our listeners, draw them in,alert them to the veracity and value of our message." 

Linklater's opinion is that the voice can reveal the speaker's inner psyche and inner thoughts. The voice of a person is influenced by the childhood experiences, the social environment and norms. As a vehicle of the individual's soul, the voice can either be a successful medium of communication or fail to convey the message of the story.  

Using Kristin Linlater's views on the voice, the social isolation and instantaneous judgment of speakers and actor's that speak English as a second language becomes evident. The foreign accent is often perceived as a threatening and alienating device. No matter of the communicated message, the English listener, will often condemn the foreign accent as a inferior and unreliable source of Truth. 

Why are then some foreign speakers being accepted and listen to as a trustworthy vehicles of information ? Often, spiritual teachers, such as Deepak Chopra and Paulo Coelho, have a wide audience that is savoring their words and messages. The reason behind the acceptance of their Truth and message lays in the listener's focus on the Soul. 

Therefore, working on the breath and the voice is of essential importance when it comes to communicating truthfully a message or a story. Using daydreaming techniques, relaxation and meditation will enable you to reconnect with the soul and reveal your true voice.