Warning: This article contains images that some readers may find disturbing
Serbian performance artist Marina Abramović held a daring exhibition in 1974, when she totally left herself at the audience’s mercy for six long hours. “Rhythm 0”, the name of her work, comprised very few elements, but had a disturbing finish.
Marina stood rigidly in a room at Studio Morra in Naples. There were 72 objects placed on a table in this room. The following “instructions” were written on a sign for this work:
“There are 72 objects on the table that one can use on me as desired.
Performance.
I am the object.
During this period I take full responsibility.
Duration: 6 hours (8 pm – 2 am)”
The utensils were divided into two groups. One was called “objects of pleasure,” the other “objects of destruction.” The pleasure selection contained harmless objects such as feathers, flowers, grapes, perfume, wine, and a piece of bread; the destructive items included knives, scissors, a metal rod, razor blades, and a pistol loaded with one bullet.