In 1974, a performance artist in Naples, Italy stood passively for six hours while the ‘audience’ could use a range of 72 objects on her in whichever way they wished. She would not resist, for these six hours she’d surrender her own agency to the crowd and take responsibility for anything that happened. She’d remain completely passive.
She left written instructions: “There are 72 objects on the table that one can use on me as desired.” And, “I am the object.”
The artist was Marina Abramović and the piece was called Rhythm 0.
But perhaps it is best viewed through the lens of a social experiment of sorts—decades before the MrBeast era.
Of the objects provided there was quite a range.
Some were benign: A rose. Honey. Bread. Apple. Comb. Lipstick. Cotton. Flowers. Mirror. Brush. Wine. Book. Perfume. Polaroid camera.
Others, less so. Whip. Pocket knife. Chains. Nails. Kitchen knife. Saw. Hammer. Axe. Razor blades. And finally, a gun and bullet.
