Art
Marina Abramovic: Exhibition that invites visitors to squeeze between nude performers gets mixed reviews
Two models stand eye to eye, completely nude.
Between them is space for an average-sized body, squeezing sideways. This is the entry to a new London art exhibition.
The Royal Academy of Arts is presenting a retrospective of Serbian performance artist Marina Abramović, whose career has spanned five decades.
An alternative entrance will be available for visitors who do not wish to use the naked doorway – a work known as Imponderabilia.
Walking between the models creates a “confrontation with nakedness, gender, sexuality and desire”, the Royal Academy’s head of exhibitions Andrea Tarsia has previously said.
Abramović is known to push her physical and mental boundaries in the pursuit of art.
In 2010, she sat for eight hours a day for nearly three months at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Visitors were invited to sit in front of her for as long as they wanted, with more than 1,500 people joining the performance. Videos of this performance will form part of the Royal Academy’s retrospective.
The House With The Ocean View will also be reperformed. In this work, performers stay in the room for 12 consecutive days, 24 hours a day.
The original performance was undertaken without food, and no talking, writing or reading was allowed.
It is not known if the performers will follow the strict conditions of the original performance at the Royal Academy.
The Guardian called the retrospective “terrifying and vital”, with Adrian Searle writing that 76-year-old Abramović is “brave and extreme… an artist you’d want on your side in a battle”.
But The Telegraph’s Ian Sooke was damning in his two-star review, writing that “only the barest bones of her former talent remain”.
Of the nude entrance, he said: “Is there a frisson? Who can say? I was too preoccupied with not stamping on their toes.”
The Times’ Laura Freeman described a similar experience: “I squeezed through, sucking in my stomach, trying not to tread on anyone’s toes or brush against anything.”
The exhibition is the first at the Royal Academy of Arts dedicated to a woman, and it’s also its first performance art exhibition. It opens on 23 September.
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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