review by Rick Dabagian Patron
Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present 2012
Watched Jul 03, 2012
Rick Dabagian’s review:
I need to watch more documentaries. There are so many great ones but 95% of the time I pick a narrative film over a doc; I should work on that.
This is a well done documentary about performance artist Marina Abramovic that revolves around her exhibit at MoMa in 2010. It's playing in select theaters and also on HBO(so try and DVR it).
As long as you are open to art and don't roll your eyes at the general notion, this is a very interesting doc. I don't know much about art and I hadn't heard of Marina before this. She is a performance artist who I now know has had a very long career full of some very unique shows. The film gives the viewer a glimpse of the past, building up to the most recent and biggest show.
It feels a little bit long and it might peak a little early, but I really liked it.
I haven't watched this yet, but I'm excited to. If you're interested, here is a fantastic profile on Marina that got me really interested in her. I tend to think that performance art is sort of bullshit; after that article, I think that most performance art doesn’t come close to touching Abramovic, and therefore is still sort of bullshit =)
:)
Thanks for the link, I'll check it out in a few.
I've never really seen much about serious performance art before this doc, but maybe there isn't too much out there. I definitely see why someone might think it's bullshit but the film made it seem clear that Marina is definitely at the top of the art form and it feels far from bullshit. She puts in an amazing amount of effort and sacrifices her body, so while some people might not care or understand it, there are plenty of easier ways to pull cheap tricks if that was the goal.
At the end of the day art's main objective is to be interesting and thought provoking, and Marina accomplishes this. Is it more determination and will-power than talent? I don't think it matters.
I think I know where I stand but we'll see what you think when you watch it
Huh, saw the preview for this before Jiro when I was at the lightbox. I honestly was not sure what to make of it, being torn between thinking she was annoying & pretentious and a visionary. Of course I took that feeling from just the couple minutes preview they showed. I too am torn on performance art, leaning toward bullshit, but still open to being convinced otherwise. I will need to watch this one and see if it takes me one way or the other.
Well, like Julie mentioned, Marina is in a league of her own. I found it interesting but it isn't incredibly deep like some documentaries, so not everyone will like it. I didn't know what to expect but it sucked me in. I just looked and the reviews have been good so I know I'm not alone, it's legit
Hey Len, you should let me know next time you are in the Centre of the Universe--would be cool to catch a film with you.
I have a real personal allergy to spectacle (like, I can't even bring myself to clap along in sync with a group), and I think that most of the performance art I am aware of borders on spectacle. Or is too abstract/"po-mo"/bizarre to get at any real meaning. From what I've read about Marina's work, her pieces are intense and personal, yet with meaning that can be universally understood. Reading about the pieces she did with Ulay especially gives me chills. I think the MoMA piece was interesting but not terribly so. So we'll see!
Will do for sure Lise, that would be great; same goes to you if you end up on the Best Coast at some point. Definitely want to hit the Lightbox again; such a lovely theatre. It's a bigger, better version of our VIFF theatre.