Artist who let spectators to do anything they wanted for six hours is ‘terrified’ ahead of Glastonbury stunt
The festivities of Glastonbury are now in full swing and I'm sure thousands of festival-goers are beyond buzzing to get their camping on, soak up the sights and groove out to all the best music from their favourite artists.
Among those in attendance at Glasto this year is none other than Marina Abramović, who once let spectators to do anything they wanted to her for six hours back in 1974.
The famous Serbian performance artist has since opened up about her latest piece set to take place at the festival today (28 June) and is 'terrified' about what will happen.
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Abramović will be heading to the Pyramid Stage to commence the stunt in front of hundreds of thousands of people.
The performance piece, which she's calling a 'public intervention', will see the artist asking the booming crowd to remain silent for a full seven minutes.
"I am terrified," Abramović said as per The Guardian: "I don’t know any visual artists who have done something like this in front of 175,000 to 200,000 people.
"The largest audience I ever had was 6,000 people in a stadium and I was thinking 'wow'. but this is really beyond anything I’ve done."
The piece, titled Seven Minutes of Collective Silence, is set to kick off at 17:55, a little before PJ Harvey’s set.
Opening up about her aims for the piece, the artist explained: "We are really facing a dark moment in human history. So what can be done? I always think protest brings more protest; hate brings more hate. I think it’s important to turn to your own self. It’s easy to criticise everything else but what can I do in my own self, how can I change?"
Acknowledging the request was a 'big risk', she continued: "That’s why I’m terrified. I could completely fail, or people could just sit. I don’t know, but I want to take the risk.
"Failing is also important, you learn from failing as well as succeeding.
“I want to see how I can go beyond the acid, beyond the mushrooms, beyond whatever is there and touch that moment in their soul and just for seven minutes stop everything. Can you imagine if we succeed? It will be an incredible moment."
Abramović added: "How can I keep the energy of silence? I’m not a singer, I’m there for another purpose, which is to figure out how we can create silence and reflect what is happening in the world right now and to have that kind of presence in the Pyramid stage."
Emily Eavis, the co-organiser of Glastonbury festival, has since shared a statement on Abramović's planned Seven Minutes of Collective Silence performance piece.
"We are honoured to have Marina Abramović bring such a meaningful and profound experience to Glastonbury," she said.
"Her work has always pushed boundaries and inspired deep reflection, and we believe this moment of collective silence will be a memorable and impactful addition to the festival."
Topics: News, UK News, Glastonbury, Festivals
Rhiannon Ingle