“Bring and Do Nothing”: Abramović’s 512 Hours (2014) in the context of Rhythm 0 (1974)"

Abstract

Following the astounding spectator response Marina Abramović generated for her durational performance The Artist is Present (March-May 2010), performed as part of the large retrospective of her work at the Museum of Modern Art, New York; where the pilgrimage to sit with Abramović as part of that work appeared to elevate her status to something akin to a temporary media /quasi-religious superstar, Abramović will commence 512 Hours at the Serpentine Gallery. For 65 days, 8 hours a day, 6 days a week in June 2014, Abramović will “bring and do nothing” in this famous gallery in the heart of London . This paper will consider to what extent this is a new departure or a reiteration of the announcement she made some 40 years ago in Galleria Studio Morra, Naples “I am an object, you can do anything you want to do with me, I will take responsibility for 6 hours” as the now notorious Rhythm 0 (1974) commenced and audience members were allowed to directly engage with the artist through the 72 objects left at their disposal. I will consider the specifics of place, time and space that marked out this early performance work as a signature piece, before considering how this new work functions to place/misplace/displace the spectator and Abramović as artist. Moreover, I will further consider how 512 Hours reflects something of the wider shifts in perception and functioning of performance art/live art and participatory practice.