Marina Abramović: A Visual Biography

Marina Abramović, the trailblazing performance artist, is joined by author Katya Tylevich to discuss their new book, Marina Abramović: A Visual Biography. Marina Abramović is a trailblazing conceptual artist who, for five decades, has lifted performance art from the margins, through her explorations of the limits of the body, the possibilities of the mind, and the relationship and boundaries between performer and audience. Abramović and Tylevich discuss how the book's unique approach made the artist nervous, superstitions, confronting fears, her relationship with her mother, and her journey from a shy child in Belgrade desperate for a nose like Brigitte Bardot to her position as an internationally acclaimed artist. Along the way there are also tales of a limb-hungry washing machine, the merits of living to 100 and the Netherlands’ laid back approach to issuing passports. 00:00 | Introduction by Southbank Centre Artistic Director Mark Ball 03:44 | Conditions for book 05:51 | Conditions for talk 06:41 | Introduction to Marina Abramović and author Katya Tylevich 08:38 | “This book made you nervous?” 12:20 | “Why do you keep everything?” 13:21 | Marina’s Superstitions 15:05 | First collection of images 17:18 | Leaving home at 29 and creating work in Amsterdam 25:52 | Second collection of images 26:08 | Josip Broz Tito’s Song 29:18 | “A shy little girl scared to walk down the street” 31:55 | The washing machine story 36:02 | Audience Question: “Your relationship with pain” 40:38 | Third collection of images 45:40 | Close to death 47:56 | Audience Question: Why has it taken so long to get where you are? 51:32 | Audience Question: “Do you think art has been therapeutic for you?” 53:58 | Audience Question: “Can I have coffee with you?” 54:39 | Audience Question: “AI and deep fake technology in art” 56:31 | Audience Question: “How does one face death gracefully?” 58:54 | What if you had stayed in Yugoslavia? 01:01:06 | Finding your medium 01:04:55 | First painting lesson 01:07:17 | First day at art school 01:08:37 | Audience Question: “Do you have any regrets?” 01:09:49 | “What have I done with my life?” 01:18:38 | The Putin joke The conversation begins with a short film, one of a number specially curated for the evening, which serve to draw us further into Abramović’s art works. Watch more \\    / southbankcentre   Subscribe \\ http://bit.ly/SBCsubscribe Twitter \\   / southbankcentre   Instagram \\   / southbankcentre   Facebook \\   / southbankcentre   #SouthbankCentre ABOUT SOUTHBANK CENTRE We believe in the power of great art and culture to bring people together, and add something amazing to your life. We work hard to bring unbeatable cultural experiences to new audiences – especially those who’ve always felt excluded from the arts. Through music, performance, art and events, we take you out of the everyday, every day. The Southbank Centre is made up of the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, Hayward Gallery, National Poetry Library and Arts Council Collection. We are home to six Resident Orchestras: Aurora Orchestra, Chineke! Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Philharmonia Orchestra. Our creative learning and participation activities help everyone express their creativity and explore their potential.