October 10, 2025 – March 1, 2026, Albertina Modern, Vienna
The first major retrospective of Marina Abramović in Austria celebrates the art of presence – a journey through five decades of body, mind, and transformation.
The Albertina Modern, in collaboration with the Bank Austria Kunstforum Wien, presents the first major retrospective of Marina Abramović in Austria. Spanning more than five decades, the exhibition explores how the artist redefined performance art – turning endurance, silence, and consciousness into a transformative language.
The Art of Presence
Since the early 1970s, Abramović (b. 1946, Belgrade) has challenged artistic conventions by using her own body as material and her consciousness as instrument. Her performances confront the limits of pain, time, and vulnerability – all in search of spiritual clarity.
The exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of her artistic evolution, from early Rhythm performances to iconic works like The Artist Is Present. Daily live reenactments bring her legendary performances to life, inviting visitors to experience the immediacy and intensity of presence.
Body, Energy, and Transformation
Themes of endurance, empathy, and transcendence run through Abramović’s oeuvre. Her body becomes a vessel for exploring consciousness and human connection. Curated by Bettina M. Busse, the exhibition features themed rooms devoted to participation, physical limits, nature’s energy, enlightenment, and memory.
Highlights include early Belgrade works, collaborations with Ulay, and recent sculptural and video installations such as Four Crosses (2019) – a monumental reflection on pain, humanity, and spirituality.
Ritual and Awareness
Abramovićs invites viewers to move beyond observation into mindful participation
“Without the audience, I can do nothing. I need their energy,” she states.
Her art becomes a ritual of transformation – a shared field of awareness that connects body, spirit, and space.
Exhibition Details:
📍 Albertina Modern, Karlsplatz 5, 1010 Vienna
🗓️ October 10, 2025 – March 1, 2026
⏰ Daily 10 AM – 6 PM | Special hours Sat–Tue 6–9 PM (Oct & Nov)
Curator: Bettina M. Busse
A collaboration between the Albertina Modern, Bank Austria Kunstforum Wien, and the Royal Academy of Arts, London.
