The Sitting & Staring Artist

Abramovicz and Liftig
A view looking down upon the performance


Currently on view until May 31st at MOMA is the artist Marina Abramovicz, showcasing herself in a 700-hour performance titled "The Artist is Present". The artist sits in the center of the room at a table with an empty chair across from her. Visitors to the exhibit are invited to come sit across from her as long as they wish, but people must not talk to her. The audience is directed to be respectful and silent, only sitting and staring as long as they would like.
As odd at this may sound, the exhibit is getting quite a bit of attention. People are engaged by the idea to interact with an artist on this level. Abramovicz first preformed a similar exhibition in the 1970's with Uwe Laysiepen, her lover at the time. But this time instead of staring into the eyes of her partner, she accepts anyone who comes to the floor.
Abramovicz sits in the center of the room wearing heavy long gowns. Large spotlights shine down on the artist, the table and the often occupied chair across from her. The thick and heavy dress the artist wears in combination with the spotlights causes her to perspire a lot. One visitor recounts that the glare of the bright lights block out the crowds creating a surreal experience.
Intrigued by the opportunity, another performance artist decided to partake in the experience by dressing up like Abramovicz and sitting in front of her the entire day. Anya Liftig called her performance sitting across from Abramovicz, "Anxiety of Influence".
Abramovicz's performances tend to evoke extreme emotions and tempt the viewer to feel the various emotions she feels in the performance. These grueling performance tests that Marina Abramovicz endures is evident by the "artist's screams and moans".