The Story of Marina Abramovic and Ulay

Introduction

• Tribute to German performance artist Ulay after his passing at 76.
• Reflects on the partnership with Marina Abramovic, significant in art history.
• Personal anecdote of witnessing Abramovic's performance The Artist is Present at MoMA in NYC.

Early Lives

Marina Abramovic

• From Serbia, studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Belgrade.
• Completed post-graduate work in Croatia.
• Taught at the Academy of Novi Sad and developed solo performances.

Ulay (Frank Uwe Laysiepen)

• From Solingen, Germany, began his art career in the 1970s in Amsterdam.
• Created self-portrait polaroid collages exploring gender as a construct.

Meeting and Partnership

• Met in 1976 and began collaborating.
• Focused on ego and identity, forming "The Other" collective.
• Developed a trusting relationship, often indistinguishable from each other.

Infamous Collaborations

Relation in Space (1976)

• Repeated running into each other to combine male and female energies.

Relation in Movement (1977)

• Drove around a museum room for 365 laps, creating symbolic art.

Relation in Time (1977)

• Sat back to back with ponytails tied, endurance tested by audience presence.

Breathing In/Breathing Out (1977-1978)

• Breathed into each other's lungs until collapse, showcasing endurance.

Imponderabilia (1977)

• Stood nude in a doorway, challenging choices of passerby's gaze.

AAA-AAA (1978)

• Yelled into each other's mouths until exhaustion, exploring dynamics.

Rest Energy (1980)

• Aimed a bow and arrow at Abramovic, symbolizing power dynamics and trust.

Nightsea Crossing (1981-1987)

• Sat motionless across from each other, mental endurance piece.

The Lovers

• Planned to marry on the Great Wall of China; drifted apart before execution.
• Walked from opposite ends of the wall, meeting for a final goodbye.
• Emotional final collaboration marked by personal complications.

The Artist is Present (2010)

• Abramovic's exhibit at MoMA included The Artist is Present, featuring silent eye contact.
• Audience interaction, notable reunion with Ulay captured significant media attention.

Later Years

• Legal dispute in 2015; resolved amicably by 2017.
• Ulay diagnosed with cancer in 2011, recovered in 2014.
• Ulay passed away on March 2nd, 2020, suspected cancer-related.

Conclusion

• Celebrates the significant historical impact of Abramovic and Ulay's collaboration on performance art.