Marina Abramović, born in Belgrade in 1946, is one of the world’s most influential conceptual artists. She is known for her subversive, uniquely personal performance art, which delves into the relationship between audience and performer, and the limits of the human body and mind.
One of her most iconic performances, a walk along the Great Wall of China with German artist Ulay in 1988, has inspired her new book, Marina Abramović: Transforming Energy (£60, Skira). It tells the story of how Abramović discovered the power of crystals, first during that performance and later by visiting mines around Brazil. The book features unseen images from the walk, plus other works spanning decades, including new pieces made for an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in Shanghai. She founded the Marina Abramović Institute, a non-profit foundation for performance art, in 2007.
The first record I owned was bought by my father; it was a 45rpm by Perry Como. I was 14 years old and it was bought together with the gramophone. It was the only one I had for a long time. I would listen to it and dance by myself.
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I received a record of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No 21 on my 17th birthday. It was snowing at the time and when I listened to the music, I had, for the first time, a notion of death and dying.
I’m currently listening to a young English pop group called Mary in the Junkyard. It was great to meet them and I love that they are experimental and exciting.
The poetry of Austrian poet and novelist Rainer Maria Rilke has been a major influence on me.
I am currently reading The City and Its Uncertain Walls, the latest novel by Haruki Murakami.
My favourite film is Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Teorema, which shows how the bourgeoisie has an inability to perceive, realise and live the sacred.
I am currently watching one of this year’s best films so far, The Brutalist, starring Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce.
I spend far too much time working too much.
My best loved quote is my own: ‘When you say no to me, it’s just the start.’
My favourite painting is Van Gogh’s The Starry Night.
My favourite restaurant is Mesiba – an Israeli place in Brooklyn that does modern Levantine cuisine by chef Eli Buli.
The best hotel room I have ever stayed in was at the Shanghai JW Marriott Marquis Pudong; the views of the city and the Huangpu River are amazing.
The greatest exhibition I have ever seen was the Mark Rothko retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.
My favourite place in the world is on top of the volcanic Mount Stromboli on the island of Stromboli, off the coast of Sicily. I love just looking at it.
My favourite building has not been built yet.
This year I am looking forward to the realisation of my Balkan erotic epic project, which will premiere at Aviva Studios in Manchester in October.
