Marina Abramovic

Marina Abramovic

Marina Abramovic is a Yugoslavian artist who is best known for her nude, artistic performances. 

These experimental performances are complex. Her artistic approach pushes the viewer's comfort zone and is meant to leave an impression that exists long after the viewer takes his eyes off of them.

In "Imponderabilia", she and another human body stood nude in a narrow museum entrance, only a foot apart from each other. This made it to where museum visitors had to choose to squeeze through the two, very naked bodies, or leave. 

http://www.moma.org/explore/multimedia/audios/190/1974

In another installation, she used a razor blade to carve a star in her stomach, whipped herself, and then lay on a cross made from ice--bleeding and exhausted. Unable to watch her suffer any longer, the audience intervened and the piece ended.

In 1976, she and a German photographer walked the entire length of the Great Wall of China, but not side-by-side. Instead, each started at opposite ends until they met in the middle, where they cut off all relationships with each other and went their separate ways.

I was moved by this one:

This piece featured Abramovic sitting in a chair for an entire day at the museum. Visitors were allowed and encouraged to sit across from her for as long as they wanted; becoming participants in the piece. In silence, Abramovic would sit across from them as an "emotional mirror" in a way--often inducing heartbreaking reactions. 

The pictures are click-through links.