Artist who had nine orgasms in public for performance had three strict rules
Famed artist Marina Abramović once had nine orgasms in public as part of a performance, but she had three strict rules that she had to abide by.
Abramović is well known in the world of art for some of her more daring productions, often exploring the human body and the relationship between artist and audience.
You may well know her from the infamous 'Rhythm 0', a much-lauded and life-threatening performance that took place in Studio Morra, Naples, in 1974, where she stood and allowed the audience to do 'anything they wanted'.
The Serbian artist left 72 objects, including a gun and a knife, on the table for people to use, suggesting that she was willing to die in the performance, which ended up lasting six hours and saw her clothes torn off and a person drink blood from her neck.
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A slightly more relaxed, albeit much longer performance saw her sit in a chair in New York City's Museum of Modern Art for two-and-a-half months, as she invited members of the public to join her in silent conversation.
Now 79, Abramović is continuing to perform around the world, although she might not be as tempted to repeat some of her more daring acts, one of which saw her have nine orgasms in public.
Having been inspired by Vito Acconci's ‘Seedbed' in 1972, which saw the American artist hide beneath a ramp at Sonnabend Gallery in New York City for two weeks, masturbating for around eight hours a day while whispering his sexual fantasies to watchers-on, which might sound weird but is also an incredibly impressive physical accomplishment.
In Abramović's version, she managed just nine orgasms, which might sound exciting but is probably quite draining when they keep happening one after another, with the performer suggesting that it did have a 'terrible' impact on her.
Despite her previous performances allowing the audience to do as they pleased, Abramović set herself three strict rules for this performance, although they had very little to do with the masturbation itself.
She was allowed no rehearsal, there would be no repetition and also no predictable ending, which left fellow artists and people working with the Serb just as surprised as the audience when it came to her performances.
No rehearsal makes sense in this case, as you wouldn't want to tire your body out too much before the main event and no repetition probably makes it attract more interest.
Following the eye-catching performance, Abramović told New York Magazine: "Having orgasms publicly, being excited by the visitors steps above me - it’s really not easy, I tell you!
"I’ve never concentrated so hard in my life. The problem for me, with this piece, was the absence of public gaze: only the sound.
"But I heard that people had a great time; it was like a big party up there! I ended with nine orgasms. It was terrible for the next piece - I was so exhausted!"
Topics: Marina Abramovic, Art
James Moorhouse