When I saw this exhibit, I just went through another doorway. I had no idea we were supposed to slip between the performers, or I might have gotten thrown out as well. So we were supposed to actually come really, really close to groping them, but if actual touching occured, we'd be punished? Seriously, what is this piece inviting if not a dangerous encounter with a beautiful nude body? Let me emphasize the beautiful part – when I was there they were all invariably perfect bodies. Granted the incident described was over the line, as it were. But why invite people to run this genital gauntlet in the first place if you not only expect but actually intend for some “improper touching” to occasionally occur? To entrap sexually-deprived museum-goers into behaving badly, and then summarily revoke their privileges for life when they take the bait, apparently. Cruel and brilliant. But is it art?

New York City in microcosm: force lots of people into a very tight space filled with enticing, tempting stimuli of every description for all to see, but if you want to touch, be prepared to pay a much higher price.

this is not art, this is theatre.

Is it just me or is it weird that this picture has the woman's breasts censored, but not the dude's dick peaking out there at the bottom?

I know it's probably just picked up from Google image, so it's not on Gothamist, but still.

Its called a double standard. Male nudity isn't a problem socially but female nudity is because in our society women are supposed to be pure. For more traditional artworks however the roles are reversed, mostly because most artists are actually male, so as a result you get the male gaze going on and female nudity is celebrated, where as male nudity is not. Even though there's been a huge upswing in female artists, they're still being taught in accordance with the male gaze. Some female artists will outright refuse to draw a male nude, but they won't bat an eye at female nudity.

Tell yah, I remember when museums showed us art.

I guess this is part of trying to get back an

audience lost to digital art that no longer "thinks

"museum.

Looks to me like some of these nude (actors?) might

have there toes, stepped on.

I went through a crowd like this in Woodstock 1969.

Didn't think of it as art,just crowded with naked

people lost in smoke and rain.

do they still have free museum nights? I wanna take my mom to this.

Yep, every Friday 4pm-8pm.

can someone please explain how this is not art? and how refusing to consider this art changes how you look at it? I'm not trying to start a fight here, just curious what sort of reaction accompanies "art my ass" or "total b.s." other than a rolling of one's eyes, which seems like some lazy criticism.

A lazy criticism for lazy art.

Ok, so sure, it comes under the definition of "art," but anything can be "art."

What exactly is the point Abramovic's work? What is she trying to express? Naked people staring each other down, Marina and Ulay yelling in each other's faces, Marina and Ulay naked running into a wall. What exactly is the point?

When art becomes uber self-referential it ends up being boring and soulless.

Therefore, this exhibit is total b.s.

When I was there I saw a really overweight guy go through and nearly knocked over the "artists." I also saw two old women go through and they giggled when they came through. It was kinda funny and cute!

This exhibit is total b.s. Definitely not art. It's just indulging these exhibitionists.

the only part of the Abramovic exhibit that spoke to me was the table with old photographs and Yugoslav war medals.

Looks pretty narrow...

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/moma_live_naked_art_66HsCHZfoRzboHxAtvhM1J?photo_num=5

What if the dude has a hard on, and you need to use your hand to push it out of the way to get past, like the subway turnstiles?

You have to swipe your MetroCard through his butt cheeks first.

Perhaps the artist hired a eunuch model, to prevent a hard-on. But honestly, let's bring in some attractive tourists with perfume on, and see what happens.

It would be interesting to watch and see which direction people face when passing between the naked man and woman. I would definitely be facing the chick.

But then you're exposing your ass to a naked man's schlong.

My wife walked through while facing the guy. I saw no need to do it myself as the woman standing there at the time had no physical attributes worth brushing against.

It would also be interesting to see if there are people who decide to shove both models out of their way. That would be the New York we know and love.

Or if this is in Pilly (brotherly love) they would shove the two together for some sexy time.

And then puke on them.