Marina Abramović has once again rewritten the language of contemporary art, this time in Venice with Transforming Energy, a historic exhibition staged at the Gallerie dell’Accademia.
Already regarded as one of the most influential performance artists of her generation, Abramović adds another milestone to her legacy: this marks the institution’s first-ever major solo exhibition dedicated to a living woman artist.
Curated by Shai Baitel, the exhibition runs alongside the Venice Biennale and places Abramović’s most iconic works in direct conversation with Renaissance masterpieces housed within the museum.
At the heart of the presentation is a striking cross-century dialogue between Abramović’s 1983 performance piece Pietá (with Ulay) and Titian’s 16th-century Pietà. Positioned side by side, the works create a powerful visual and emotional exchange between contemporary performance art and classical painting, exploring themes of grief, presence and transcendence.
The exhibition also revisits Abramović’s long-standing exploration of endurance and energy through her Transitory Objects series. These sculptural installations, comprising stone and crystal beds, invite visitors to physically interact with the works by lying or standing on them. The act is intended to activate what Abramović describes as “energy transmissions,” continuing her decades-long investigation into the relationship between body, space and consciousness.
Presented within the historic architecture of Venice, the contrast between Renaissance heritage and contemporary performance heightens the immersive nature of the exhibition, reinforcing Abramović’s signature ability to turn viewing into participation.
At nearly 80 years old, Abramović continues to expand the boundaries of what art can be not just observed but physically experienced.
Transforming Energy is now on view at the Gallerie dell’Accademia until October 19.
