Image courtesy of Marina Abramovic and Tin Drum
Christie’s to partner with Microsoft and its HoloLens 2 headset, to power Marina Abramovic’s seminal performance piece The Life – the world’s first mixed reality artwork, produced by Tin Drum.
The Life will be presented in Los Angeles for a limited appointment-only run from 10th to 15th February 2020 before being exhibited in New York in early May, and finally from 3rd to 8th October 2020 in London all to coincide with Frieze art Fairs and Abramovic’s show at London’s Royal Academy of Arts in London. The Life is the first work of its kind to be presented at auction and is offered by Tin Drum, in association with Abramovic LLC with an estimate of £400,000-800,000. This ground-breaking artwork – a fusion of art and technology – will engage new audiences in a dedicated exhibition space within Christie’s, harnessing Microsoft’s pioneering HoloLens 2 technology, and Tin Drum’s visionary production, to bring the artist’s vision to life.
Katharine Arnold, Co-Head, Post-War and Contemporary Art, Christie’s Europe:
“Christie’s will bring Marina Abramovic’s The Life to new audiences during 2020. To coincide with the editions of Frieze Art Fair in both Los Angeles and New York, The Life, powered by Microsoft HoloLens 2, will be displayed in an exhibition space where visitors will experience this ground-breaking performance by one of the most pioneering artists of our time. This mixed reality artwork offers a unique and intimate opportunity to interact virtually with Marina Abramovic and we are delighted to bring this to viewers in these vibrant cities at a time when the global art world comes together to celebrate contemporary art.”
In the 19-minute performance of The Life, an authentic representation of the artist appears, moving in a slow, methodical performance through a roped-off five-metre circle before evaporating into electricity and air. Unlike virtual reality, mixed reality allows the other visitors and gallery space to remain visible at the same time. Abramovic’s use of this evolving technology reflects her longstanding interest in the limitations of the human body and mind: an enquiry that, since the 1970s, has given rise to one of the world’s greatest performance art practices.
Lila Tretikov, CVP of AI and Mixed Reality, Microsoft:
“At Microsoft, we believe that creating new opportunities for artists to transcend cultural boundaries and amplify their societal impact is at the forefront of creating a more inclusive and optimistic future. By sharing our innovations in mixed reality and artificial intelligence, we bring together science and art in an attempt to understand and explain the world around us. This partnership with Christie’s, Marina Abramovic, and Tin Drum showcases the beauty in bringing together these two disciplines to produce a new way to educate and inspire audiences.”
Marina Abramovic?’s The Life Los Angeles, New York and London christies.com/Marina-Abramovic-The-Life
