Marina Abramović has by no means shied away from counterintuitive prompts, however her newest endeavor is her most oxymoronic but — getting Glastonbury, a really loud music competition, to be silent for seven straight minutes.
Abramović accomplished the endeavor on Friday, the primary formal day of Glastonbury, round 5:55pm, shortly earlier than PJ Harvey’s set on the Pyramid Stage. The visible and efficiency artist meant for the occasion to be a “public intervention” as a substitute of a efficiency, and needed attendees to make use of the silence as a technique to mirror on the present state of the world.
Chatting with The Guardian, Abramović previewed the occasion and defined why she was desirous to seize this second at such a highly-attended competition. “How can I maintain the power of silence? I’m not a singer, I’m there for an additional objective, which is to determine how we will create silence and mirror what is occurring on the earth proper now and to have that type of presence within the Pyramid stage.”
She continued, saying she wasn’t initially positive she would even succeed. “It’s a giant danger, that’s why I’m terrified,” Abramović mentioned. “I may utterly fail, or folks may simply sit. I don’t know, however I need to take the chance. Failing can be vital, you be taught from failing in addition to succeeding.” She additionally needed the second to be an introspective detour in an in any other case extroverted airplane, saying, “We’re actually dealing with a darkish second in human historical past. So what might be completed? I all the time suppose protest brings extra protest; hate brings extra hate. I feel it’s vital to show to your personal self. It’s simple to criticise all the things else however what can I do in my very own self, how can I modify?”
Emily Eavis, Glastonbury’s co-organizer, additionally expressed pleasure for Abramović’s look. “We’re honoured to have Marina Abramović convey such a significant and profound expertise to Glastonbury,” Eavis informed The Guardian. “Her work has all the time pushed boundaries and impressed deep reflection, and we consider this second of collective silence can be a memorable and impactful addition to the competition.”
The Guardian has been reporting dwell from the competition, and discussed Abramović’s appearance of their dwell weblog. “[The silence] is a giant ask given the, ahem, well-lubricated nature of some Glastonbury punters, however by the sounds of it she’s been profitable,” reported Gwilym Mumford. “The Guardian’s Sarah Phillips, who’s within the discipline, says that, bar a rogue screamer, the gang all saved quiet and that the impact is ‘extremely highly effective and shifting.’”
Glastonbury is at the moment underneath manner on Worthy Farm, and can characteristic headlining units from Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and SZA. Each Dua Lipa’s and Coldplay’s units will be capable of be livestreamed from all over the world on the BBC website.
🎥 Serbian artist Marina Abramović joins PJ Harvey on the Pyramid Stage for a 7 minute silence 🙏#Glastonbury #GlastonburyFestival pic.twitter.com/y9QXC20baI
— Far Out Journal #Glastonbury2024 (@FarOutMag) June 28, 2024