Phallus, Vagina, Universum
Marina Abramović is presenting a major retrospective at the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, shifting focus from her well-known explorations of physical pain to the erotic energy of the human body. The exhibition draws heavily on Slavic folklore and pagan traditions from her Balkan heritage, exploring how ancient rituals used sexuality and the body as tools for spiritual and cosmic connection.
This shift in thematic focus highlights Abramović's evolution from the 'grandmother of performance art' known for endurance to a practitioner interested in the intersection of cultural anthropology and eroticism. By bringing these provocative themes into a major German institution, the show challenges contemporary taboos and recontextualizes her historical body of work through the lens of life-affirming energy rather than just suffering.