Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
The Royal Academy of Arts’ Marina Abramović retrospective ran in London from 23 September 2023 to 1 January 2024. Its live reenactment of Imponderabilia placed two nude performers in a narrow entrance passage, but visitors could choose an alternative route. Critics disagreed over whether the encounter—and the exhibition as a whole—retained the force of Abramović’s work.
What was the Royal Academy exhibition?
The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) presented the exhibition in its Main Galleries as the first major UK solo survey of Abramović’s work. It brought together photographs, videos, objects and installations, as well as live reperformances of four works from a career the RA described as spanning more than five decades. The exhibition has ended; it ran from 23 September 2023 through 1 January 2024. The RA’s exhibition announcement describes its format and dates.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Marina Abramović Method | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Marina Abramovic: A Visual Biography | $44.28 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Walk Through Walls: A Memoir | $14.30 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Abramović-isms | $12.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Ulay / Marina Abramovic: Love. Hate. Forgiveness | $16.10 | Buy on Amazon |
How did the nude entrance work?
A reenactment of Imponderabilia
At the entrance, two nude performers stood facing each other in a narrow passage. Visitors who chose that route passed between them. The work was a 2023 reenactment of Imponderabilia, created by Abramović and her then-partner Ulay in 1977. The RA described the piece as an exploration of human relations. Sky News reported on the entrance arrangement.
Visitors had another route
Passing between the performers was not required to enter the exhibition: Sky News reported that the RA provided an alternative entrance for visitors who did not want to use the nude doorway. The RA’s press release said Imponderabilia was scheduled daily, with four to six performances a day, each lasting about an hour. Those figures describe the 2023–24 exhibition schedule, not a current programme. The RA announcement gives the schedule.
#1 Best Overall
- 30 INSTRUCTION CARDS BY MARINA ABRAMOVIC: To teach you this legend of performance art's method for reaching a higher consciousness and confronting life's challenges.
- A UNIQUE, BOXED SET: Using exercises Marina Abramovic has developed for herself to prepare for her incredible performance works, the Method will help you focus, reconnect with the present, and locate your highest creative potential.
- EXAMPLE PROMPT: Sit or stand still. Blink your eyes as quickly as you can, turning your head from side to side. When blinking begins to slow, stop and look straight ahead with eyes wide open.
Why did the reviews differ?
The disagreement was among critics, not a measured split in visitor opinion. Reviewers differed over whether a reenactment could carry the intimacy of the original performance, what the doorway encounter meant, and how strongly the retrospective’s later work held up beside Abramović’s earlier pieces.
| Critic | View of the reenactment | View of the exhibition |
|---|---|---|
| Laura Cumming, The Guardian | She argued that the stand-ins did not reproduce the emotional connection between Abramović and Ulay, describing them as “detached and slightly fragile models.” | She found the exhibition uninvolving. |
| Ben Luke, Evening Standard | He called Imponderabilia awkward but potent, focusing on vulnerability and the difficulty of avoiding contact in the passage. | He praised the retrospective’s pacing while criticizing portions of Abramović’s later work. |
These are individual critical judgments. Luke’s first-person observation—“You do everything you can to not touch the performers, but you know it’s impossible”—describes his own experience, not a universal response. Cumming’s review and Luke’s review set out their arguments.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #2
What did the doorway mean?
One interpretation was that the narrow passage made visitors conscious of bodies, boundaries and the possibility of contact. PerthNow quoted RA head of exhibitions Andrea Tarsia describing it as a “confrontation between nakedness, and the gender, the sexuality, and the desire.” That is the institution’s explanation of the encounter, not evidence that every visitor experienced it that way. Critics could find the same setup awkward, potent or emotionally unconvincing. PerthNow’s contemporaneous coverage summarized the critical disagreement and reported Tarsia’s comment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Were visitor reactions actually measured?
The available coverage does not establish a representative visitor poll or quantify how many visitors approved of or objected to the show. “Mixed reviews” refers to differing critical assessments, including favorable reviews and a two-star Telegraph review reported by PerthNow; it should not be read as a statistic about audience sentiment.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
