EJ Hill is performing 'Yearning for an Absolute' (2025), the centerpiece of his solo show at 52 Walker in New York, where he kneels on a church kneeler for eight continuous hours each day without food, water, or breaks. The performance runs from June 25 to September 13, totaling 56 days across 12 weeks, and completes a "performance triptych" with his earlier works from 2016 and 2018. Hill describes it as far more grueling than anything he has done before, experiencing widespread physical pain and mental challenges.
The performance matters because it pushes the boundaries of endurance art, placing Hill in the tradition of canonical figures like Tehching Hsieh, Chris Burden, and Marina Abramović. While overtly referencing Catholicism, Hill intends the work as a nondenominational embodiment of extreme difficulties people bear quietly, aiming to inspire viewers toward greater grace and compassion. The piece also marks a transitional moment for Hill, who turned 40 during the performance, and reflects broader socio-cultural commentary on mind over body.