Marina's Unexpected Nude Speaks Out

Josephine Decker preparing to sit with Marina Abramović

Decker waiting in line outside of MoMA

Marina Abramović may not be present at MoMA anymore, but her internet presence will never die. We got in touch with one of the performance artist's final (and controversial) face-to-face guests, who until now has just been referred to as the streaker. 29-year-old Josephine Decker (who camped out to be first in line) did indeed strip down for Marina during her last day of "The Artist Is Present," but why? Here's what she told us:

Marina's retrospective—the most thrilling museum exhibit I have ever experienced—transformed the way I think about my body, art, spirituality and, of course, how raw meat would smell during its third day in your lap. She works so hard to touch deep, frightening, transcendent parts of herself and humanity and to share that experience. I stood in front of the video of her and Ulay screaming into each other’s mouths and felt my world rock like her very full bowl of milk. I thought hard about how to thank her—write a letter, make a film and hand it to her when I sat with her? When I landed on the idea of sitting naked across from her, I knew that was it. I could be, for a moment, as vulnerable to her as she constantly makes herself to us.

Alas, when her moment came, and she disrobed, seven security guards quickly made their way over to escort her out of the museum. Decker tells us:

I thought nudity would bring joy, spontaneity! Not TEARS, CHAOS. I honestly thought that the worst that would happen was that I would be asked to put my clothes back on. I still can’t believe I was escorted out of the building by a group of guards and told that if I returned, I would be arrested. In “The Artist is Present,” the audience is a huge part of the work, and by entering that space and following the rules (sit silently, do not bring anything into the space, maintain eye contact, and the unstated one: don’t touch Marina), I expected any audience member could stay as long as he or she was willing to be present.

Decker was not allowed back in to the museum even if she put her clothes back on. We've contacted MoMA and will update should they decide to issue a statement about the incident... because really, it's not like Decker was the only nude in that museum that became, albeit temporarily, a part of Marina's retrospective.

UPDATE: They have no comment, but unsurprisingly MoMA does have a no nudity policy for visitors!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on June 2, 2010 10:19 AM

Comments [rss]

ultraapple

Um...well...I can tell you why she got booted. BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE ARE GONNA SIT IN THAT CHAIR!

Unsanitary.

Evan

hotstepper, you wouldn't believe how much that girl can put away. She will eat her own food followed by your food and the food on the table one over. She's also an athlete, not to mention an extremely talented artist, playwright, filmmaker, and musician in her own right.

I think there's a lot of "my kid could do that" in this whole situation and everything surrounding it and the answer to that is "but your kid didn't." She may have done it wrong but she did do it and I, along with many others, think it's great.

RoboticInsides

She has a surprisingly nice butt.

hotstepper

she looks extremely emaciated. please someone, ANYONE, shovel some fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy her way STAT! ...do it foie gras style if necessary!

RoboticInsides

Hence the surprising part... Her upper body looks so thin and then boom... a round butt.

Guest

Agreed. For a white girl, she gots back!

lamb

I would have thought this was cool if she didn't hang around the lobby crying/being interviewed for two hours afterward. And she didn't just want to go back in the museum, she wanted a second chance to sit with Marina. Sorry honey, you blew it. Oh, and she said she would have asked if it was OK to take off her dress but thought security would say no.

Guest

It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

lamb

True, but it doesn't mean you'll get it.

Guest

That's why she should have streaked through a church. They have to forgive her.

Stevennnn

Uncensored picture please?

Sketto

No nudity in the museum please. Um, unless it's a picture or sculpture. But the real thing? Goodness gracious - call security.

Our society is fucking retarded.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

I am actually interested in Marina's feelings about this nude woman and vomit guy.

hotstepper

NUDITYtm
by Marina Abramović

elpollodiablo

"29-year-old Josephine Decker (who camped out to be first in line) did indeed strip down for Marina during her last day of "The Artist Is Present," but why?"

I don't think an interview is really necessary to answer this question.

Rocknrope

Nothing worse than an unfunny attention whore trying to glom onto another artist's work by running a stunt like this.

That being said, I did click through to her website, so good job Decker, you got your goddamn click. Now go please fade away into obscurity.

Jen S

Glom, exactly.

thefacts

ZZZzzz....Charlotte Moormon did nude performance art 45 years ago.

This is not avant garde. This is posteriore garde.

kazubes

attention whore

kafkask

Pretty much anyone who does something labled "performance art" is one. I mean, most all of these people are fairly talentless.

But we all know that already.

verbal

"Art is what you can get away with." - Andy Warhol

fuboy

I hate Warhol for various reasons, but this quote always pisses me off.

I clogged the hell out of a toilet at a party this weekend. Didn't try to flush or plunger it into working, just left it as it was. I guess that was art, because people were talking about it and I got away with it.

I also think my 'Expulsion in Porcelain' was better art than Abramović's 'Sitting in a Chair' but that's up for debate.

verbal

Ya think? That's a link to her personal website describing her 'projects'. This society is fucked - how about an original idea or work of art?

Tower18

I stood in front of the video of her and Ulay screaming into each other’s mouths and felt my world rock like her very full bowl of milk.

I already hate this person.

Tower18

I should clarify that I can't stand people that talk like that...but I see nothing wrong with what she did, considering the exhibit. I think it was perfect, in fact.