Marina Abramović will be prominently featured in this year's Luminato Festival in Toronto, Canada. The prestigious festival, an annual ten-day celebration of art that takes place throughout the city, will host the North American premiere of The Life and Death of Marina Abramović, the debut of the Marina Abramović Institute Prototype and a lecture by the artist.
The Life and Death of Marina Abramović
directed by Robert Wilson
at the Bluma Appel Theatre
June 14-17, 2013
Following its premiere at the Manchester International Festival and a sold-out European tour, the critically-acclaimed biographical stage piece The Life and Death of Marina Abramović, will make its North American debut at the Luminato Festival. The Life and Death of Marina Abramović is a once-in-a-generation cultural event, featuring scenes from Abramović’s life from her Serbian childhood to her work as a performance artist, re-imagined by visionary director Robert Wilson. Starring Marina Abramović, Willem Dafoe and an international cast of actors and performance artists and featuring original and traditional music, including songs written and performed by the incomparable Antony of Antony & The Johnsons, this ground-breaking event brings together the worlds of theatre, art and music to thrilling effect.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Luminato Festival website.
Marina Abramović Institute Prototype
at Trinity Bellwoods Park
June 14-23, 2013
As part of their ongoing investigation into the work of French/Swiss artist Jean Tinguely, Amsterdam’s Metamatic Research Initiative has commissioned Marina Abramović to install a prototype installation of the forthcoming Marina Abramović Institute (MAI) at the Luminato Festival. In keeping with the MAI's mission to focus on long-durational performance art, conducting research and creating interdisciplinary connections, the Marina Abramović Institute Prototype comprises a series of interlocking pavilions through which audience members will be guided through exercises and experiences of the Abramović Method, which trains audiences with the skills to observe long durational performance. Rather than creating the performance, audience members will be empowered to craft their own experience, disconnecting from the outside world for approximately two hours. Afterwards, they will be encouraged to share their thoughts about the experience via social media. Live streaming of the exhibition will extend the MAI to other locations throughout Toronto.
To view a video interview of Marina Abramović discussing the project, please visit the Luminato Festival's YouTube page.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Luminato Festival website.
The Past, The Present, and The Future of Performance Art Lecture
at the Winter Garden Theatre
June 18, 8pm
In conjunction with the festival, Abramović will also be giving a lecture on June 18th. Titled The Past, The Present, and The Future of Performance Art, she will review her oeuvre and examine the art of collaboration, including her landmark union with Robert Wilson for The Life and Death of Marina Abramović. She will also share her thoughts on the future of performance art and discuss the development of the Marina Abramović Institute.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Luminato Festival website.
Image: Marina Abramović 2012 © Laura Ferrari