London will receive a triple assist from performer Marina Abramovic this fall. Her exhibition twice delayed at the Royal Academy will finally open on September 23 (until January 1, 2024). Meanwhile, English National Opera will host the UK premiere of its opera project, 7 Death of Maria Callas. And across the river, the artist’s institute will take up much of the Southbank Center from October 4-8.
Artists curated by the Marina Abramovic Institute will present long-running performances throughout the venue, including for the first time the dressing rooms, green rooms, technical areas and foyers, as well as the main auditoriums of Queen Elizabeth Hall and of the Purcell Room.
Performers will include Collective Absentia, Carla Adra, Paula Garcia, Carlos Martiel, Yiannis Pappas, Paul Setúbal, Despina Zacharopoulou. Abramovic herself will participate on October 4 and 8 and will be present at other times.
“The public will be invited not only to be an observer, but also to participate actively,” explains Marina Abramovic in a press release. “Long-term performances are one of the most ephemeral, unique, difficult, demanding and transformative works of art today. My institute, the Marina Abramović Institute, will present very different visions of this medium. I am passionate about expanding beyond my own practice by supporting other performance artists through this project.”
Abramovic will also mark the publication of his new book Marina Abramovic: a visual biography at an event at Southbank on October 1, which includes new interviews and never-before-seen footage from his personal archive.
The takeover was announced today as part of the Southbank Centre’s autumn/winter programme, which also includes dance performances by (LA)HORDE and Brazilian artists Alice Ripoll and Cia Suave.
