Rest Energy
Rest Energy, by Marina Abramović, is a 1980 performance piece created and performed in liaison with Ulay. The performance, which was recorded in Amsterdam, offers a staged enactment, which is the medium, of the great levels of vulnerability and trust entrenched in any deep relationship (Abramović et al., 1998). In this performance piece, Abramović and Ulay face each other with an arrow and a bow between them, which is the art object. As Abramović is holding the bow across her chest, Ulay is holding the arrow pointedly against Abramović, which is the central process in the piece. As could be seen, the two are leaning backward to achieve an ideal balance to help them to pull the string tight in a bid to release the arrow towards Abramović’s heart. The duo continues to hold their grip in the same posture until they both lose concentration and become too …show more content…
Obviously, the signifier is the drawing of a distinction in the positions of the duo, thus offering a sense of moral danger with an array of exciting opportunities – though not equally for the duo. Notably, Ulay has the temerity of the bow, which he is holding while Abramović positions herself as the potential victim in the whole arrangement (Anderson, 2010). The foregoing performance sanctions the pure trust each has towards one another. Besides, the performance embodies the strength of their mutual bond, including the effort and commitment to risk for one another that their love might thrive. “Standing across from one another in slanted position. Looking each other in the eye. I hold a bow and Ulay holds the string with the arrow pointing directly to my heart. Microphones attached to both hearts recording the increasing number of heartbeats” (Westcott, 2010). In essence, Rest Energy defines itself by a conscious, orderly, and bold presentation, which explores the duo’s intense encounter with death and stark
Rest Energy, by Marina Abramović, is a 1980 performance piece created and performed in liaison with Ulay. The performance, which was recorded in Amsterdam, offers a staged enactment, which is the medium, of the great levels of vulnerability and trust entrenched in any deep relationship (Abramović et al., 1998). In this performance piece, Abramović and Ulay face each other with an arrow and a bow between them, which is the art object. As Abramović is holding the bow across her chest, Ulay is holding the arrow pointedly against Abramović, which is the central process in the piece. As could be seen, the two are leaning backward to achieve an ideal balance to help them to pull the string tight in a bid to release the arrow towards Abramović’s heart. The duo continues to hold their grip in the same posture until they both lose concentration and become too …show more content…
Obviously, the signifier is the drawing of a distinction in the positions of the duo, thus offering a sense of moral danger with an array of exciting opportunities – though not equally for the duo. Notably, Ulay has the temerity of the bow, which he is holding while Abramović positions herself as the potential victim in the whole arrangement (Anderson, 2010). The foregoing performance sanctions the pure trust each has towards one another. Besides, the performance embodies the strength of their mutual bond, including the effort and commitment to risk for one another that their love might thrive. “Standing across from one another in slanted position. Looking each other in the eye. I hold a bow and Ulay holds the string with the arrow pointing directly to my heart. Microphones attached to both hearts recording the increasing number of heartbeats” (Westcott, 2010). In essence, Rest Energy defines itself by a conscious, orderly, and bold presentation, which explores the duo’s intense encounter with death and stark