How Did 'The Artist is Present' Prove Love is Endless?

Hey,

Marina Abramovic, a Serbian performance artist, is described as the "grandmother of performance art". She focuses on the limits of the body and the possibilities of the mind. Her work spans three decades and primarily deals with "confronting pain, blood, and physical limits of the body." In 2010, Marina Abramovic organized 'The Artist is Present' in the Museum of Modern Art. The performance art exhibition was held from March 14 to May 31 and is a 736 hour and 30 minute piece. Spectators were invited to sit across Abramovic as she sat immobile during her presentation. 

Throughout the video, different sitters face Abramovic and have a stare-off competition in which the performance artist maintains a blank expression throughout the sitting period. What made her performance heart-wrenching was when she has a surprise visit from ex-boyfriend and fellow performance artist Uwe Laysiepen who is commonly known as Ulay. 

Their love story spans three decades. In 1975, Abramovic met Ulay in Amsterdam and co-created a decade of influential work. Their bonding was so strong that they dressed alike and referred to themselves as a "two-headed body". Their relationship came to an end in 1988 when they decided to part ways at the Great Wall of China. 

They put on their last piece 'The Great Wall Walk' where each walked 2500 kms from opposite ends and met in the middle to say their good-byes. Abramovic stated, "We needed a certain form of ending, after this huge distance walking towards each other. It is very human. It is in a way more dramatic, more like a film ending...because in the end you are really alone, whatever you do." 

They didn't reconnect until 2010. Ulay came the opening day and waited in line to sit across his former lady love. After a sitter left, Abramovic closed her eyes and waited for the next person to come before her. She was pleasantly surprised to see Ulay and as the two began their stare-off session, her eyes welled up with tears. She ultimately   reached across the table to hold his hands. It was evident that a deep emotional connection was still present between the two.

As I saw the performance artist become emotional, my own eyes began to tear up. I truly believe love is endless. Distance and time are barriers but when two former lovers reconnect, the joy of reconnecting is plainly evident. I was also moved by Abramovic's gesture of reaching out and holding Ulay's hand. Holding hands is very symbolic. It shows fondness, openness, respect, concern and trust. 

What are your views on the video?