Can NFTs Inspire Mindfulness? (with Marina Abramović)

Marina Abramović built her career by testing the limits of the body. Now, she’s testing what digital art can do. On this episode of The Artsy Podcast, the groundbreaking performance artist joins us for a conversation about launching her new NFT project, bringing mindfulness to the digital realm, and using her work to reach across generational divides. 

Plus, Artsy editors Casey Lesser and Arun Kakar break down everything you need to know about Frieze Week in New York—a period packed with art fairs, gallery openings, and can’t-miss museum shows.

About our guest:

Marina Abramović is perhaps the most famous performance artist working today. Employing duration, pain, danger, exhaustion, and viewer participation, she works at extremes and complicates the relationship between art and audience. Abramović exhibited at Documenta in 1977, 1982, and 1992 and at the Venice Biennale in 1976 and 1997, when she was awarded the Golden Lion. In her famous 2010 Museum of Modern Art retrospective, “The Artist Is Present,” visitors sat across from Abramović in silent communion. More recently, she became the first woman artist to stage a solo exhibition in the Royal Academy’s main galleries in the institution’s 255-year history. Abramović is the founder of the Marina Abramović Institute, which promotes performance art globally.

Key topics: NFTs, digital art, performance art, the future of museums, advice for young artists, Frieze New York

Fairs and exhibitions mentioned:

• Frieze New York: May 7th–11th at The Shed
• TEFAF New York: May 9th–13th at Park Avenue Armory
• NADA New York: May 7th–11th at the Starrett-Lehigh Building
• Future Fair: May 7th–10th at Chelsea Industrial
• 1-54 New York: May 8th–11th at Halo
• Esther II: May 6th–10th at the Estonian House
• Michael Armitage, “Crucible” at David Zwirner: opening May 8th
• Antonia Showering, “In Line” at Timothy Taylor: opening May 8th 
• Élise Peroi, “For Thirsting Flowers” at Carvalho Park: through May 23rd
• The Frick Collection
• Jack Whitten, “The Messenger” at MoMA: through August 2nd 

Related reading:

The Legacy of Marina Abramović’s “The Artist Is Present” Lives On with New Generations of Artists

How Digital Art Has Fared Since the NFT Boom