Marina Abramovic and Ulay

I was moved to tears last night while watching this moment between the artist Marina Abramovic and her former love Ulay. Apparently they started an intense love story in the 70s and when they felt the relationship had run its course, they decided to walk the Great Wall of China, each from one end, meeting for one last big hug in the middle and never seeing each other again.

During her 2010 MoMA retrospective Ulay arrived without her knowing and this is what happened. Really moving.

(via Zen Garage)

11 Comments leave a comment below

  1. FYI – this is edited footage from The Artist is Present, an HBO documentary, available on iTunes, etc. There’s another version of this scene, which I find even more touching and which I think is pulled directly from the doc, that has more of a lead up with Ulay. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XNcWRbh8wQA

  2. I can really recommend watching the full documentary. Not only is there a short introduction to their lovestory right before the scene above (like Mike said) but Marina is also an amazing artist/person.

  3. In our times, feelings like this become normaly a touch of calculation – we are no longer disposed to let it happen deaply and to take it as this thing, it is: Life. The deeper sense of living.

    Knowing her (hi-)story, this scene becomes a touch of an outstanding happening:

    Art? Life? Conducted scene

    In any case in our reactions just simple the power of love – and forgiveness for a missunderstanding end; a résumé in peace.

    We all are in our feelings beautiful. And unique.

  4. This is the famous DORIAN GRAY story by Oscar Wilde – live!
    Back then with a picture.
    Nowadays with a little (big) help from my friendly doc.

  5. Thank you for sharing I just watched the video and it is quite emotional

  6. I second the suggestion to watch the complete documentary. This clip, out of context, does seem quite romantic, but there’s a bit more to the story of their relationship.

  7. This is the famous DORIAN GRAY story by Oscar Wilde – live!

  8. How sweet. Thank you for sharing!

  9. Please see the documentary in it’s entirely. Unfortunately the background information provided is incorrect.

  10. Ok, I was initially emotionally spellbound by this reunion as I could envision all their unspoken thoughts…”how could you…oh well…I loved you…it’s in the past…hey it’s you!…wow, you look great…it’s been a long time…not much we can do now…you hurt me”…and so on.

    If you view various interviews and well as scrutinize the setting you will realize it was planned. Historically they had done sitting/facing performances together in the 80’s with him leaving early because he hated sitting so long. For them to meet again this way was symbolic. Later days of the show, she got rid of the table. However having the table for her meeting with him echoed their previous performance, “Nightsea Crossing.”

    Also this meeting occurred on the first day of her performance. He is wearing the opposite colors as her. And they spoke briefly before the show opened that morning. She knew he would sit with her that day.

    Finally they are performance artists. How much of their gestures are for the audience’s sake?

  11. What a beautiful story! I can’t help but wonder what happened after they seen each other since they broke up?? I’m dying to k ow! Did they meet up after the exibit? Are they friends now? Lovers? Anyone know???