Marina Abramović is a Serbian conceptual and performance artist whose work explores the limits of the body, the possibilities of the mind and the relationship between the artist and their audience.
For her most famous performance, named 'Rhythm 0,' Abramović placed 72 objects on a table that spectators could use on her however they desired.
She would not move for six hours and no matter what the public chose to do to her, she said she would take 'full responsibility.'
The 72 objects ranged from things like flowers, perfume and apples to more sinister items like razors and knives.
During Marina Abramović's 'Rhythm 0,' she allowed the public to do whatever they wanted to her without any consequences (Marina Abramović Institute/YouTube)
At first, the audience were tame in their response to the task. Some simply watched the artist as she stood still. Others handed her roses and held her hands.
But, things took a dark turn part way through the performance as people realised there were no limits to their actions.
By the end of the six hours, Abramović had been stripped of her clothing and a knife had been stuck between her legs.
Harrowing photos taken at the time show the artist crying.
Other reports say that Abramović - who has been hailed as 'one of the most significant artists of the second half of the 20th century' - ended up with a loaded gun to her head, sparking people to step in and end the performance.
In an interview on the Marina Abramović Institute YouTube channel, she called the piece 'really difficult.'
As the performance went on, the public's actions became more extreme, leaving the artist in tears (Marina Abramović Institute/YouTube)
"At the beginning, nothing really happened," she reflected. "The public were really nice. They gave me a rose, they would kiss me, look at me, and the public became more and more wild."
Speaking about what happened when the performance finally came to an end, she went on: "I start moving. I start being myself [...] and, at that moment, everybody ran away. People could not actually confront with me as a person."
She added: "The experience I drew from this piece was that in your own performances you can go very far, but if you leave decisions to the public, you can be killed."
Further reflecting on this in a 2014 interview with the Guardian, Abramović said she was 'ready to die'.
"I had a pistol with bullets in it, my dear. I was ready to die," she told the newspaper.
She went on to say that she felt 'lucky' that she lived to tell the tale.Featured Image Credit: Marina Abramović Institute/YouTube and Dave Benett/Getty Images for the Roundhouse
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Updated 08:41 2 Sep 2024 GMT+1Published 08:28 2 Sep 2024 GMT+1
Artist who was 'ready to die' after letting spectators do anything to her reveals horrific moment it went wrong
Performance artist Marina Abramović was nearly killed in the stunt
The performance artist who controversially allowed spectators to do whatever they wanted to her body for six hours has revealed the moment the stunt went horribly wrong.
In 1974, Serbian conceptual artist Marina Abramović decided to take on the most risky performance of her career. Named 'Rhythm 0,' the artist stood completely still for six hours while visitors were allowed to use a series of objects on her in whatever way they wished.
Aiming to see how far the public would go when given complete control over another human's body, Abramović left 72 different objects out for spectators to use.
These included a a rose, feather, perfume, honey, bread, grapes, wine, scissors, a scalpel, nails, a metal bar, a gun, and a bullet.
At first, the audience were tame in their response to the task. Some simply watched the artist as she stood still. Others handed her roses and held her hands.
But, things took a dark turn part way through the performance as people realised there were no limits to their actions.
By the end of the six hours, Abramović had been stripped of her clothing and a knife had been stuck between her legs.
Harrowing photos taken at the time show the artist crying.
Other reports say that Abramović - who has been hailed as 'one of the most significant artists of the second half of the 20th century' - ended up with a loaded gun to her head, sparking people to step in and end the performance.
In an interview on the Marina Abramović Institute YouTube channel, she called the piece 'really difficult.'
As the performance went on, the public's actions became more extreme, leaving the artist in tears (Marina Abramović Institute/YouTube)"At the beginning, nothing really happened," she reflected. "The public were really nice. They gave me a rose, they would kiss me, look at me, and the public became more and more wild."
Speaking about what happened when the performance finally came to an end, she went on: "I start moving. I start being myself [...] and, at that moment, everybody ran away. People could not actually confront with me as a person."
She added: "The experience I drew from this piece was that in your own performances you can go very far, but if you leave decisions to the public, you can be killed."
Further reflecting on this in a 2014 interview with the Guardian, Abramović said she was 'ready to die'.
"I had a pistol with bullets in it, my dear. I was ready to die," she told the newspaper.
She went on to say that she felt 'lucky' that she lived to tell the tale.Featured Image Credit: Marina Abramović Institute/YouTube and Dave Benett/Getty Images for the Roundhouse
Tell Us Why Sport Is King Right Now and Win $1,000 — Thanks to TAB
Bringing you closer to the action, no matter the sport.
We’re living in a golden era of sports — where epic moments are happening daily, new legends are rising and the energy of the crowd is electric.
But we want to know what makes you love this moment in sport. Whether it’s the underdog stories that give you goosebumps, the last-second winners that bring everyone together or the way sports unite us like nothing else.
In 25 words or less, tell us why you think now is the greatest time to be a sports fan, and you could score a $1,000 e-gift card, thanks to TAB.
TAB has been around the block, but it's not just about the horses. No matter the sport, their app helps bring you closer to the action.
With more markets, stats and insights, they’re proving why they’re the best app in sport right now.
So, what are you waiting for? Share your thoughts, get involved and you might just score yourself a $1,000 e-gift card to make your next sports experience even sweeter.
Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Updated 08:41 2 Sep 2024 GMT+1Published 08:28 2 Sep 2024 GMT+1
Artist who was 'ready to die' after letting spectators do anything to her reveals horrific moment it went wrong
Performance artist Marina Abramović was nearly killed in the stunt
The performance artist who controversially allowed spectators to do whatever they wanted to her body for six hours has revealed the moment the stunt went horribly wrong.
In 1974, Serbian conceptual artist Marina Abramović decided to take on the most risky performance of her career. Named 'Rhythm 0,' the artist stood completely still for six hours while visitors were allowed to use a series of objects on her in whatever way they wished.
Aiming to see how far the public would go when given complete control over another human's body, Abramović left 72 different objects out for spectators to use.
These included a a rose, feather, perfume, honey, bread, grapes, wine, scissors, a scalpel, nails, a metal bar, a gun, and a bullet.
The performance started relatively tame (Marina Abramović Institute/YouTube)
Unsurprisingly, it didn't take long for the experiment to go south, but where did it all go wrong?
Initially, the stunt remained pretty tame, with visitors offering her a rose of simply watching as she stood still.
However, this would later take a very dark turn.
"At the beginning, nothing really happened," Abramović, now 77, would later say of the stunt during an interview on the Marina Abramovic Institute YouTube channel.
"The public were really nice. They gave me a rose, they would kiss me, look at me, and the public became more and more wild."
Emboldened by the fact that Abramović had placed her fate entirely in the hands of those around her, spectators became violent in their actions. The artist's clothes were slashed away by razor blades and one person would even cut her throat in order to suck blood from her neck.
The artist would later reveal that she believed the turning point was when the audience realised they could get away with doing whatever they wished to her body.
Unsurprisingly, it didn't take long for the experiment to go south, but where did it all go wrong?
Initially, the stunt remained pretty tame, with visitors offering her a rose of simply watching as she stood still.
However, this would later take a very dark turn.
"At the beginning, nothing really happened," Abramović, now 77, would later say of the stunt during an interview on the Marina Abramovic Institute YouTube channel.
"The public were really nice. They gave me a rose, they would kiss me, look at me, and the public became more and more wild."
Emboldened by the fact that Abramović had placed her fate entirely in the hands of those around her, spectators became violent in their actions. The artist's clothes were slashed away by razor blades and one person would even cut her throat in order to suck blood from her neck.
The artist would later reveal that she believed the turning point was when the audience realised they could get away with doing whatever they wished to her body.
However the public would soon become more violent (Marina Abramović Institute/YouTube)
Towards the end of the performance, the audience had split into two camps - those who wanted to protect Abramović and those who wanted to do her harm. A fight would break out in the room after a loaded gun was pointed to her head. It's unclear whether or not this ended the experiment or the six hours had simply elapsed.
Either way, Abramović had revealed some harrowing truths about what humans are prepared to do to others when faced with no repercussions.
"What I learned was that ... if you leave it up to the audience, they can kill you," she said.
"I felt really violated: they cut up my clothes, stuck rose thorns in my stomach, one person aimed the gun at my head, and another took it away."
Abramović went on to add that several spectators would even run away after the performance ended, unable to face the woman they had treated so horribly.
Towards the end of the performance, the audience had split into two camps - those who wanted to protect Abramović and those who wanted to do her harm. A fight would break out in the room after a loaded gun was pointed to her head. It's unclear whether or not this ended the experiment or the six hours had simply elapsed.
Either way, Abramović had revealed some harrowing truths about what humans are prepared to do to others when faced with no repercussions.
"What I learned was that ... if you leave it up to the audience, they can kill you," she said.
"I felt really violated: they cut up my clothes, stuck rose thorns in my stomach, one person aimed the gun at my head, and another took it away."
Abramović went on to add that several spectators would even run away after the performance ended, unable to face the woman they had treated so horribly.
The 77-year-old artist would thankfully live to tell the tale (Joseph Okpako/WireImage)
"Everybody ran away. People could not actually confront with me as a person."
The performance would go on cement Abramović as one of the most important conceptual artists around at the time, but also demonstrate the cruel nature of the human mind.Featured Image Credit: (Joseph Okpako/WireImage Marina Abramovic)
‘Most tattooed woman in world’ with 99.8 percent of body covered says one hurt more than the rest
She'd know better than anyone how each one would feel
The new holder of the Guinness World Record for being the world's most tattooed woman has discussed pretty much everything to do with her body ink.
American woman Esperance Fuerzina has got 99.8 percent of her body tattooed and gone through 89 body modifications throughout her life.
The 36-year-old is inked from head to toe, and even has patterns on the soles of her feet as well.
She's blown previous record holder Charlotte Guttenberg, who had tattoos on 98.75 percent of her body, out of the water and realised when she looked up the record to beat that she'd already surpassed it.
Her first body modification was a split tongue, which she got in 2014, and since then her record of 89 far surpassed the previous record of 49 set in 2012 by Maria José Cristerna.
"Everybody ran away. People could not actually confront with me as a person."
The performance would go on cement Abramović as one of the most important conceptual artists around at the time, but also demonstrate the cruel nature of the human mind.Featured Image Credit: (Joseph Okpako/WireImage Marina Abramovic)
‘Most tattooed woman in world’ with 99.8 percent of body covered says one hurt more than the rest
She'd know better than anyone how each one would feel
The new holder of the Guinness World Record for being the world's most tattooed woman has discussed pretty much everything to do with her body ink.
American woman Esperance Fuerzina has got 99.8 percent of her body tattooed and gone through 89 body modifications throughout her life.
The 36-year-old is inked from head to toe, and even has patterns on the soles of her feet as well.
She's blown previous record holder Charlotte Guttenberg, who had tattoos on 98.75 percent of her body, out of the water and realised when she looked up the record to beat that she'd already surpassed it.
Her first body modification was a split tongue, which she got in 2014, and since then her record of 89 far surpassed the previous record of 49 set in 2012 by Maria José Cristerna.
Esperance Fuerzina is the world's most tattooed woman, and the woman with the most body modifications. (SWNS)
"To be the most tattooed woman and to have the most body modifications feels a little crazy, I am grateful and excited for the future – and of course I am not done," she said of obtaining the Guinness World Records.
Getting tattoos and body modifications is not without pain, though Esperance has said she's learned to use meditation to deal with the hurt that comes with the ink.
The world record holder said receiving pain with a tattoo was 'a small moment in time for something I can keep for life'.
She said: "One of the riskiest mods I have is the sclera tattooing - that was a pretty intense modification.
"I've also done ink staining on my tongue and my gums as well as splitting my tongue."
"To be the most tattooed woman and to have the most body modifications feels a little crazy, I am grateful and excited for the future – and of course I am not done," she said of obtaining the Guinness World Records.
Getting tattoos and body modifications is not without pain, though Esperance has said she's learned to use meditation to deal with the hurt that comes with the ink.
The world record holder said receiving pain with a tattoo was 'a small moment in time for something I can keep for life'.
She said: "One of the riskiest mods I have is the sclera tattooing - that was a pretty intense modification.
"I've also done ink staining on my tongue and my gums as well as splitting my tongue."
She said getting her eyes tattooed was 'a pretty intense modification'. (SWNS)
Esperance isn't the only tattoo afficionado who's had the sclera process done, a woman who went in for the process twice said the first time around was the 'most excruciating pain I've ever gone through', but there was 'absolutely no pain during the second procedure.
The Guinness World Record holder has tattoos not just on her eyeballs but also on her eyelids, gums and tongue as well.
Other body modifications she had besides getting her tongue split include piercings, facial implants and having part of her ears removed.
She said she uses the tattoos to record memories, explaining: "I have had a pretty nomadic life, and not much room in my (army) pack, I felt I could take this with me wherever I go."
The 36-year-old believes they help her 'turn dark times into light', and said she is 'not done' with getting more tattoos and boy modifications.Featured Image Credit: SWNS
Topics: Art, Community, Guinness World Record, Health, US News
Artist reveals what Harry Potter characters were actually meant to look like in real life and some are very surprising
Some of the characters don't look like the actors that portray them at all.
An artist has unveiled her own depictions of characters from the beloved wizarding world.
That's right, Harry Potter characters have been re-drawn and some of them will leave you feeling a bit uneasy and confused.
Often when you get deep into a book, you begin to visualise everything in your head: the places they go to, the fights, and most of all, the people.
Your mind becomes more vivid than any cinema screen when you find a story you like, so it's no surprise that some fans struggle with the transition from print to screen, especially with certain details being altered.
MsBananaAnna is a Vietnamese artist, and has used artificial intelligence to assist her character portraits that were drawn based on their descriptions in the books.
Esperance isn't the only tattoo afficionado who's had the sclera process done, a woman who went in for the process twice said the first time around was the 'most excruciating pain I've ever gone through', but there was 'absolutely no pain during the second procedure.
The Guinness World Record holder has tattoos not just on her eyeballs but also on her eyelids, gums and tongue as well.
Other body modifications she had besides getting her tongue split include piercings, facial implants and having part of her ears removed.
She said she uses the tattoos to record memories, explaining: "I have had a pretty nomadic life, and not much room in my (army) pack, I felt I could take this with me wherever I go."
The 36-year-old believes they help her 'turn dark times into light', and said she is 'not done' with getting more tattoos and boy modifications.Featured Image Credit: SWNS
Topics: Art, Community, Guinness World Record, Health, US News
Artist reveals what Harry Potter characters were actually meant to look like in real life and some are very surprising
Some of the characters don't look like the actors that portray them at all.
An artist has unveiled her own depictions of characters from the beloved wizarding world.
That's right, Harry Potter characters have been re-drawn and some of them will leave you feeling a bit uneasy and confused.
Often when you get deep into a book, you begin to visualise everything in your head: the places they go to, the fights, and most of all, the people.
Your mind becomes more vivid than any cinema screen when you find a story you like, so it's no surprise that some fans struggle with the transition from print to screen, especially with certain details being altered.
MsBananaAnna is a Vietnamese artist, and has used artificial intelligence to assist her character portraits that were drawn based on their descriptions in the books.
Cedric Diggory was originally played by Robert Pattinson in the films. MsBananaAnna/Imgur
For example, Cedric Diggory, who is played by Robert Pattinson in The Goblet of Fire) is actually meant to have 'very handsome chiseled features, dark hair and grey eyes', which the actor doesn't have all of.
Bellatrix Lestrange
For example, Cedric Diggory, who is played by Robert Pattinson in The Goblet of Fire) is actually meant to have 'very handsome chiseled features, dark hair and grey eyes', which the actor doesn't have all of.
Bellatrix Lestrange
Bellatrix LeStrange was portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter in the films. MsBananaAnna/Imgur
The iconic Bellatrix Lestrange, played by Helena Bonham Carter, is described in the book as having 'long shiny thick black hair, strong jaw, dark hooded eyes, thin lips, gaunt from long term imprisonment, still has vestiges of old beauty'.
Severus Snape
The iconic Bellatrix Lestrange, played by Helena Bonham Carter, is described in the book as having 'long shiny thick black hair, strong jaw, dark hooded eyes, thin lips, gaunt from long term imprisonment, still has vestiges of old beauty'.
Severus Snape
Severus Snape was played by Alan Rickman in the films. MsBananaAnna/Imgur
Head of Slytherin House Severus Snape was played by the late Alan Rickman, with his appearance as the character not too far off this depiction.
Hermione Granger
Head of Slytherin House Severus Snape was played by the late Alan Rickman, with his appearance as the character not too far off this depiction.
Hermione Granger
Hermoine Granger was played by Emma Watson in the films. MsBananaAnna/Imgur
Goody-two-shoes Hermoine Granger was portrayed by the one and only Emma Watson in her breakout role as she acted as the voice of reason in the trio, but she looks quite different to what the book described her as.
Harry Potter
Goody-two-shoes Hermoine Granger was portrayed by the one and only Emma Watson in her breakout role as she acted as the voice of reason in the trio, but she looks quite different to what the book described her as.
Harry Potter
Harry Potter was portrayed by Daniel Ratcliffe throughout the films. MsBananaAnna/Imgur
The chosen one, the boy who lived - whatever you want to call him, this is probably the closest or best portrayal of a character looks-wise from the book to the film.
Daniel Radcliffe looks almost exactly as described in the book, down to a tee.
Ron Weasley
The chosen one, the boy who lived - whatever you want to call him, this is probably the closest or best portrayal of a character looks-wise from the book to the film.
Daniel Radcliffe looks almost exactly as described in the book, down to a tee.
Ron Weasley
Ron Weasley was played by Rupert Grint in the films. MsBananaAnna/Imgur
Ron Weasley was known for his clumsiness and smart quips, and for being very ginger in the books, and though Rupert Grint portrays all these things brilliantly, there is a bit of a contrast to how he looked in the role compared to this re-imagining.
The artist shared her portraits to Imgur, showing the likes of the Weasley family, Cho Chang, Remus Lupin and Draco Malfoy.
Ron Weasley was known for his clumsiness and smart quips, and for being very ginger in the books, and though Rupert Grint portrays all these things brilliantly, there is a bit of a contrast to how he looked in the role compared to this re-imagining.
The artist shared her portraits to Imgur, showing the likes of the Weasley family, Cho Chang, Remus Lupin and Draco Malfoy.
Anthony Harvey / Getty Images
Speaking to Bored Panda, self-confessed 'nerd' MsBananaAnna said she's been a complete 'Potterhead' since her early years in school.
She said: "I basically grew up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione and remember waiting in line at midnight for the release of each book.
"I came up with the idea to recreate the characters when I tried to find some fan works of Hermione. I watched the movies and though I like Emma Watson, I always thought she was too gorgeous to be Hermione.
"I couldn't find any renditions of her that I thought were accurate so I ended up making her myself. People seemed to enjoy it so much that I decided to make more characters."
While some look similar to their live-action counterparts, others are rather different. For the artist, Sirius Black (played by Gary Oldman) was her favourite to redesign.
The artist said: "I thought that was plucked straight from my head.
"Artbreeder can be pretty limiting in what you can do and can be a bit twiddly so not all of the characters came out as I wanted, but I thought Sirius came out as I imagined him! Dark and regally handsome."
Speaking to Bored Panda, self-confessed 'nerd' MsBananaAnna said she's been a complete 'Potterhead' since her early years in school.
She said: "I basically grew up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione and remember waiting in line at midnight for the release of each book.
"I came up with the idea to recreate the characters when I tried to find some fan works of Hermione. I watched the movies and though I like Emma Watson, I always thought she was too gorgeous to be Hermione.
"I couldn't find any renditions of her that I thought were accurate so I ended up making her myself. People seemed to enjoy it so much that I decided to make more characters."
While some look similar to their live-action counterparts, others are rather different. For the artist, Sirius Black (played by Gary Oldman) was her favourite to redesign.
The artist said: "I thought that was plucked straight from my head.
"Artbreeder can be pretty limiting in what you can do and can be a bit twiddly so not all of the characters came out as I wanted, but I thought Sirius came out as I imagined him! Dark and regally handsome."
