Marina Abramovic’s three month long staring contest is over. In the end she spent 700 hours staring into the faces of strangers in the Museum of Modern Art. Celebrities, artists, tourists, brothers, monks, humans. She sat in her chair during the operating hours of the museum every day from open to close for three months. She did not eat or use the restroom at this time.

Simultaneously, a retrospective of her past performance art pieces were performed by a group that she trains in the video above. NYT reported that one person stared back at her in the nude, which is interesting, considering her past work which was largely done in the nude. Other people cried after a few hours staring at her, and one person felt the need to throw up behind her chair. Marina remained, looking forward.

Once Marina makes her mind up, it appears she can endure pretty much everything. Someone said today “there is power in committing to something, even if it is wildly simply and stark.” I agree. Her comment “Everyone wants to do what they want, no one grows from doing what they want” is a little insight to her willingness to be uncomfortable.

It seems counter-cultural, to be uncomfortable. We are known for our comforts, it is what separates us from other people, how comfortable we are in the developed world. To then purposefully make yourself uncomfortable is to align yourself with those who do not have the luxury of choice, and perhaps, show the rest of us that comfort is not a god. Embrace what you don’t want. Embrace discomfort. The artist is effing present.

Maria Abramovic | NYT on finale
Flickr set with some participants & time spent staring