Besides the Internet pandemonium caused by Kendrick Lamar's verse in the latest Big Sean song, social media has been abuzz as of late with another prominent figure, the grandmother of performance art Marina Abramović, but for reasons far more pacifist. After The Artist Is Present, her 2010 performance at the MoMA in which she sat in a chair for 736 hours opposite anyone open to a staring contest, Marina became acutely aware of the need for a new institute for humanity, where art, science, technology, and spirituality converge and consciousness emerges via the Marina Abramović method––her practice of long durational works designed to increase awareness of one's physical and mental experience.
Sofia Cavallo: Hi Marina! How are you doing?
Marina Abramović: I’m good, great day, Kickstarter is wrecking my nerves!
Where are you now?
I'm in upstate New York, just two hours from the city. It’s really quiet so we can work on the campaign.
What was the first thing you did when you woke up this morning?
The first thing I do is I go to swim. I like to swim in the creek here. You know, it's so wonderful and I really think it's better than swimming in the pool because it’s better energy––it's like living force.
But I had four interviews today; you’re my fifth! I had to make lunch for friends of mine who came to visit me––a chicken with mushrooms and peperoncini, which was good, and potato salad––then more interviews! It’s actually lots of working and thinking about strategies, because we have another ten days to meet the goal. This goal is important because it can pay the costs of the engineering and planning for the institute. This is only the first phase; the entire project will cost $20 million, which is such a big, big amount of money, so we have different ideas on how to raise that.
And you know, as an artist I've never done such a thing before. And a few days ago, I made the reward of one dollar for one hug. So all my friends have to pay if they want to be hugged by me! [Laughs] It’s a crazy idea! It will probably end as a very long durational work, because if you think about $1,000, you have to hug one thousand people. It’s a lot of work and a lot of energy! Can you imagine for a hundred thousand? It will be so insane. Maybe I should rent a stadium, I don't know!
Speaking of hugs, who was the last person you hugged?
Oh, this morning for lunch! My friends, I hugged them. But I told them, this is just for today––tomorrow nobody can be hugged for free. But the hug is something direct; you break a barrier, and it is so human. Actually, there is an amazing saint called Amma who is known for hugging people. Have you heard of her?
No, never!
She has hugged more that 30 million people up until now. Again, it’s the spiritual concept.
So you’ve explained the Marina Ambra
To make the space a reality, Marina has embarked on an ambitious Kickstarter initiative, with incentives like "The Embrace" campaign, which promises a hug for every $1 donation, and a live-streamed water-drinking exercise for every $25. I dialed the incredibly warm and funny artist to talk everything from her fundraising efforts to LOLing, HOV's energy, why she loves the handicapped stalls in public restrooms, and more. The project will only be funded if at least $600,000 is pledged by Sunday, August 25th––that's ten days to go; donate here now!
All images courtesy of OMA
Sofia Cavallo: Hi Marina! How are you doing?
Marina Abramović: I’m good, great day, Kickstarter is wrecking my nerves!
Where are you now?
I'm in upstate New York, just two hours from the city. It’s really quiet so we can work on the campaign.
What was the first thing you did when you woke up this morning?
The first thing I do is I go to swim. I like to swim in the creek here. You know, it's so wonderful and I really think it's better than swimming in the pool because it’s better energy––it's like living force.
But I had four interviews today; you’re my fifth! I had to make lunch for friends of mine who came to visit me––a chicken with mushrooms and peperoncini, which was good, and potato salad––then more interviews! It’s actually lots of working and thinking about strategies, because we have another ten days to meet the goal. This goal is important because it can pay the costs of the engineering and planning for the institute. This is only the first phase; the entire project will cost $20 million, which is such a big, big amount of money, so we have different ideas on how to raise that.
And you know, as an artist I've never done such a thing before. And a few days ago, I made the reward of one dollar for one hug. So all my friends have to pay if they want to be hugged by me! [Laughs] It’s a crazy idea! It will probably end as a very long durational work, because if you think about $1,000, you have to hug one thousand people. It’s a lot of work and a lot of energy! Can you imagine for a hundred thousand? It will be so insane. Maybe I should rent a stadium, I don't know!
Speaking of hugs, who was the last person you hugged?
Oh, this morning for lunch! My friends, I hugged them. But I told them, this is just for today––tomorrow nobody can be hugged for free. But the hug is something direct; you break a barrier, and it is so human. Actually, there is an amazing saint called Amma who is known for hugging people. Have you heard of her?
No, never!
She has hugged more that 30 million people up until now. Again, it’s the spiritual concept.
So you’ve explained the Marina Ambra