Marina Abramović Will Bleed for You

She stands in a room with a table that held 72 objects—needles, grapes, knives, chains, a saw, lipstick—and a loaded pistol. A sign on the wall gives the audience permission to use the objects on the artist however they want. Although they start off timidly, by the end of the performance her clothes have been cut off, and she has been sliced with razors. Someone holds the gun against her head, and another audience member wrestles it away. This goes on for six hours.

Excerpt from the wiki on performance artist Marina Abramović:

"Rhythm 0" (1974)
To test the limits of the relationship between performer and audience, Abramović developed one of her most challenging (and best-known) performances. She assigned a passive role to herself, with the public being the force which would act on her.

Abramović had placed upon a table 72 objects that people were allowed to use (a sign informed them) in any way that they chose. Some of these were objects that could give pleasure, while others could be wielded to inflict pain, or to harm her. Among them were scissors, a knife, a whip, and, most notoriously, a gun and a single bullet. For six hours the artist allowed the audience members to manipulate her body and actions.

Initially, members of the audience reacted with caution and modesty, but as time passed (and the artist remained impassive) several people began to act quite aggressively.

As Abramović described it later:

“The experience I learned was that... if you leave decision to the public, you can be killed.” ... “I felt really violated: they cut my clothes, stuck rose thorns in my stomach, one person aimed the gun at my head, and another took it away. It created an aggressive atmosphere. After exactly 6 hours, as planned, I stood up and started walking toward the public. Everyone ran away, escaping an actual confrontation."

Performance artists have got some big brass ones, man. I marvel at people who seriously dedicate their lives to the art. What is art? Something that makes you reconsider how you see the world? Something that moves you?

MoMA currently has a retrospective of Marina Abramović's work. Using performers to reenact many of Abramović's major pieces. Some patrons have been getting a little gropey with the nude talent.

Abramović herself is part of a piece called “The Artist is Present”. Engaging in staring contests with anyone willing to sit opposite her. LIVE CAM HERE. She sits silently. Every day, from before the museum is open to the public until after the museum is closed. No breaks. "I have to be like a mountain," says the artist.

Laurie Anderson interviews Marina Abramović

Marina Abramović Institute