Marina Abramović, a well-known Serbian performance and conceptual artist, is famous for exploring the boundaries of the human body and mind. Her art often focuses on the connection between the performer and the audience, challenging the viewer’s perception of art itself.
Now 78 years old, Abramović has built a reputation for testing the limits of what’s considered socially acceptable. In one such project called ‘Contract,’ she gave fashion designer Riccardo Tisci a very unexpected direction to ‘suck her t’.
She recalled their creative conversation, saying: “He said, ‘Let’s make work together’. So I say, ‘Is it true that fashion is always inspired by art?’ And he says, ‘Of course we’re inspired by art because we’re looking at the art magazines, we’re looking at the shows, we’re looking at artists, and we get inspiration.'”
She then added: “And I say, ‘Okay, our work is going to be like this. I’m art because I will use my body. You’re fashion, you’re going to suck my t**.'”
Another one of her most shocking and unforgettable works invited complete strangers to interact with her body however they pleased, while she stood completely passive and took full accountability for whatever they did.
Back in 1974 at Galleria Studio Mora in Italy, she stood still for six full hours during her piece titled ‘Rhythm 0’. There were 72 different objects laid out, and audience members were free to use any of them on her however they liked.
Speaking to the Guardian in 2014, Abramović shared that she had been mentally prepared for the worst.
Looking back, she said she feels fortunate to have survived the experience and be able to talk about it today.
She considers herself ‘lucky’ to have made it through what could have been her final performance.