After walking the Chinese Wall, I realized that for the first time I had been doing a performance where the audience was not physically present. In order to transmit thisexperience to them I built a series of transitory objects with the idea that the audience could actively take part. The basic structure was sitting, standing, and lying. As I was building the objects I paid a lot of atten- tion to the materials I used. I limited myself to materials like copper, iron, wood, and minerals. I believe these materials contain certain energies. I do not consider these works as sculptures, but as transitory objects to trigger physical or mental experiences among the public through direct interaction. When the experience is achieved the objects can be removed.
My transitory objects do not have symbolic meanings: their function and use are very precise and simple. They are made of a combination of different materials such as quartz, amethyst, tourmaline, copper, iron and wood, which have very specific effects on the user. These objects only make sense when they are invested with certain power, when people wear them. This is the reason I do not call them sculptures, they are objects to be introduced in everyday life. My ob- jects can be used by members of a family that, before having breakfast or going about their chores, go to the wall and press their bodies against one of these objects and only then get busy with their daily lives. It is the role of the objects to become part of this life. I don’t see a problem in the lack of strict obedience to the instructions for the use of my objects. The way I see it, the artist’s function is to present the work and deliver it to the public, so the public can bring it to completion.
Marina Abramovic
Public Body: Installations and Objects 1965-2001
Edizione Charta, Milano, 2001
Public Body: Installations and Objects 1965-2001
Edizione Charta, Milano, 2001
My transitory objects do not have symbolic meanings: their function and use are very precise and simple. They are made of a combination of different materials such as quartz, amethyst, tourmaline, copper, iron and wood, which have very specific effects on the user. These objects only make sense when they are invested with certain power, when people wear them. This is the reason I do not call them sculptures, they are objects to be introduced in everyday life. My ob- jects can be used by members of a family that, before having breakfast or going about their chores, go to the wall and press their bodies against one of these objects and only then get busy with their daily lives. It is the role of the objects to become part of this life. I don’t see a problem in the lack of strict obedience to the instructions for the use of my objects. The way I see it, the artist’s function is to present the work and deliver it to the public, so the public can bring it to completion.
Marina Abramovic
Transitory Objects For Human Use
Galeria Brito Cimino, 2008.
Transitory Objects For Human Use
Galeria Brito Cimino, 2008.