Marina Abramović & the arrow that could have easily taken her life
Marina Abramović & Ulay – Rest Energy, 1980, performance for video, 4 minutes, ROSC’ 80, Dublin 1980
Photo: Marina Abramović and Ulay. Courtesy of Marina Abramović and Sean Kelly Gallery, New York. DACS 2016
Introduction
It is no secret that Marina Abramović is one of the best and most audacious performance artists of all time. Celebrated for her ability to push boundaries when it came to performance art and indeed using her body as an a portrayal of meaning, endurance and at times the threat of physical harm, she has therefore made a big impact on performance art over the years. Her work, Rhythm Series (1973-1974), Balkan Baroque (1997), The Lovers: The Great Wall Walk (1988), and The House with the Ocean View (2002) among others is a testament to her dedication to this type of performance art. This became even better when she paired up with German artist Ulay, to create this piece, Rest Energy with her in 1980. She credits this four minutes long performance piece as being her most difficult work.
Marina Abramović & Ulay and the arrow
Currently in the Netherlands Media Art Institute’s collection, Rest Energy does not disappoint. Indeed looking at a Polaroid that is part of the loop series featuring Abramović and Ulay draws a lot of emotions. The two face each other and Ulay aims an arrow tensed on the bow straight at her- in fact, a few inches from her heart. The Polaroid evokes emotions of individual vulnerability and total trust with Mariana holding the bow while Ulay grasps the arrow and bowstrings both slightly tilted back on their heels making eye contact. The captured pose is tense, a reaction evoked because the two put tension on the bow and arrow. What draws one’s eye is the fiery red arrow and the focus on Marinna though her pose is suggestive of subordination.
Marina Abramović & Ulay – Rest Energy, 1980
Installation view of Marina Abramović and Ulay’s Point of Contact, 1980 and Rest Energy, 1980
© MONA/Rémi Chauvin. Image courtesy of Mona – Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
The meaning of Rest Energy
What you could describe as a harrowing ordeal is actually a portrayal of total trust and vulnerability, inherent in every close relationship where the people love each other, and rooted in extremism. What makes this piece raw and resonant with emotions is the fact that the two artists had fallen in love and were in a relationship at the time of shooting this piece. Indeed, the entire video is more intense as they had microphones hooked on their hearts such that with the progress of the performance, there was an increase in the tempo and intensity of their heartbeats. Also, an interesting contributing factor to the birth of this piece is the fact that both artists were born on 30th November hence were both Sagittarius, the zodiac sign of the Archer. This formed the basis of choosing the bow and arrow as the weapon of choice to approach and link with each other.
About Marina Abramović
Marina Abramović, the undisputed queen of performance art is well-known for her radical pieces that propelled her to worldwide fame. She was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1946 and dedicated her life to creating pieces centered in performance, and feminist art. She is especially renowned for the use of her body as medium and subject when creating her art.
Video still of Rest Energy
Ulay/Marina Abramović Rest Energy 1980, 16 mm transferred to digital, with color, sound, 4:04” min. Amsterdam, LIMA Foundation. Courtesy of Marina Abramović Archives and LIMA, MAC/2017/034
Courtesy of Marina Abramović Archives. Marina Abramović by SIAE 2018
Video excerpt of Rest Energy
Related works
Marina Abramović walks China’s Great Wall only to break up
Marina Abramovic – The Lovers: The Great Wall Walk (still), 1988/2008, performed for 90 days along The Great Wall of China. 16mm film transferred to two-channel video
About Marina Abramović & Ulay: The Lovers: The Great Wall Walk
Artists Marina Abramovic and Ulay are known in many parts of the world as the lovers whose relationship ended at the Great Wall of China. Initially, when the couple planned the trip, they intended to get married at the center of the wall. However, it was years later when the couple finally acquired all the authorization required from the Chinese government and were able to raise funds for the projected. Sadly, by then, the couple’s 12-year relationship has crumbled and what started out as a marriage celebration turned into last goodbyes for the couple. The couple had planned to be the first people to walk the entirety of the Great Wall, however, they were beaten to the punch by a Chinese railway clerk.
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