Marina Abramovic & Ulay, "The Lovers" and Other Collaborations

Marina Abramovic & Ulay, "The Lovers" and Other Collaborations

Marina Ambramovic and Ulay collaborated on many pieces throughout their 8 year relationship. Their earlier pieces like "AAA AAA," "Light/Dark," and "Rest Energy" all expressed a potent dynamic between man and woman, yet a duality necessary for existence. In their respective orders, the pieces displayed Abramovic and Ulay screaming at each other, slapping each other, and holding a bow and arrow--Ambramovic the bow and Ulay the arrow--to display a sense of violent unity between the two sexes. The long-term relationship the two shared culminated in their piece "The Lovers" during which each began walking at one end of The Great Wall of China and met at the middle three months later. The dramatically beautiful piece expressed the journey of two lovers coming together and, ultimately, tearing apart as the two parted at the conclusion of the piece. The piece expresses a dedication to performance art similar to that of The Hunger Artist in Franz Kafka's fictional tale.

Video Link: "The Lovers."