(Photo: Wikipedia / Francesco Pierantoni )
Glastonbury, the iconic music festival known for its energetic atmosphere and star-studded line-up, will feature a surprising and unusual event this year. Amid performances by artists like SZA, Coldplay, Paul McCartney, Dua Lipa, and Avril Lavigne, renowned performance artist Marina Abramović will attempt to silence the festival's massive crowd for seven minutes. This "public intervention" is designed to bring a moment of peace in a world rife with conflict.
Abramović spoke to The Guardian about her ambitious plan. "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," she said. "Can you imagine if we succeed? It will be an incredible moment."
Event Details and Preparation
Her target audience now is between 175,000 and 200,000 people, this is way beyond the heading any of her previous performances. This will be the first time a new record will be added to her work, as it will get that large audience to read it all at once. The event, organized by the British art organization Circa, is named Seven Minutes of Collective Silence. Known for showcasing art on billboards worldwide, Circa has brought Abramović's latest concept to Glastonbury, where it will take place today. Her exact method to hush the crowd remains unspecified, but Abramović visited Stonehenge early this morning to gather energy for the performance.
Abramović will take the stage this evening, dressed in clothing designed by Riccardo Tisci. While she has kept the details of her attire under wraps, she mentioned that the garments would convey a sense of peace.
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In her interview with The Guardian, Abramović referred to a "dark moment in human history," though she did not elaborate on what she meant. She also expressed a nuanced view on protest, suggesting that protest often leads to more protest and that hate begets more hate. Instead, she advocates for personal introspection and transformation, asking, "What can I do in my own self, how can I change?"
Audience and Impact
Though it is uncertain whether Glastonbury attendees will collectively turn inward as Abramović envisions, the performance artist has assured a vast audience. Last year, the festival attracted 210,000 people, so her attempt at mass silence will be seen by thousands, at the very least.
Abramović has predicated her professional work on the idea of art and endurance and constantly provokes the audiences with shocking ideas. Since her work on the stage starting in the 1970s involved risky performances that could even have an element of life-endangering, this female artist has continued with her determined efforts to test the extent to which the individual, especially the art producer and the consumer, are willing to go.
Seven Minutes of Collective Silence is another bold chapter in her storied career. If successful, it can serve as a very good antidote to festival-associated noise and confusion and a good reflective break in the midst of the festival. In any case, the mere fact that Abramović will be heading to Glastonbury means that the festival-goers will be able to witness something quite unforgettable.
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