Marina Abramovic/Ulay

Trekking in Time: Marina Abramovic and Ulay

The Lovers, Great Wall Walk by Marina Abramovic/Ulay

In 1988, artists Marina Abramovic and Ulay ended their relationship, both as colleagues and lovers. They walked from different ends along the Great Wall of China in order to finally meet in the middle and say goodbye. After ninety days of walking they met at Er Lang Shan in Shen Mu, Shaanxi province.

The Lovers: The Great Wall Walk was the last performance piece created by Abramovic and Ulay as an artist couple and lovers after a twelve year long relationship.

Walking along the Great Wall of China gave Abramovic and Ulay time and space to think through their relationship, what had been, leave it behind and look to the future. They chose the location specifically for the nature with its cultural and historical references. The long distance is essential to the core of the work. The walk was not about going from A to B, but about existence and emotions, facilitating, with the help of body and space, an inner journey.

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