Click to Enlarge
Onassis dance scholarship fellow Martha Pasakopoulou interprets a re-performance of the works Art Must Be Beautiful, Artist Must Be Beautiful (1975), and Cleaning the Mirror by Marina Abramović in the context of «As One» program. It is an extensive project aiming at presenting Abramović’s method in Greece and consisted of the Abramović Method, newly commissioned performance pieces by Greek artists, and an extensive public program of lectures, workshops, discussions and other public participatory events hosted at the Benaki Museum (Pireos St. Annex) initiated by NEON in collaboration with the Marina Abramović Institute (MAI).
The work Cleaning the Mirror (8 hours) is re-performed for the first time since its first iteration in 1995, when it was performed only for video. In Cleaning the Mirror (1995), Abramović an iconic performance artist, sits next to a skeleton with a bucket with soapy water. During the performance she vigorously brushes the different parts of the skeleton and by being cleaned, the colour of the skeleton becomes lighter, whereas the dirt which once coated the bones starts to cover Abramović herself. It is a ritual/meditation on the concepts of time and death. Performances on 19/3, 10/4 και 17/4.
In addition, Martha Pasakopoulou re-performs for the first time in Europe Abramović’s Art Must Be Beautiful, Artist Must Be Beautiful (1975). The work is also re-performed by Dimitris Bampilis, Dimitra Billia, Gitsa Konstantoudaki, Eliane Roumie, Vassiliki Spachou, Kalliopi Zervoulakou. Performances on 20/3, 3/4 και 24/4.
Martha Pasakopoulou holds a BA in dance by the Professional Dance School of N. Kontaxaki in Athens and a Chemistry degree by the National University of Athens. In 2009, she moved to London to complete an MA in Performance at London Contemporary Dance School with a particular interest in improvisation scores and performer's perception. Her studies were supported by A. S. Onassis, Kostopoulos and Schillizzi Foundations. She has collaborated with various choreographers such as Wally Cardona, Robert Clark, Eva Recacha, Rick Nodine, Michael Klien, Seke Chimutengende, Leila McMillan, Robin Dingemansand with the artists Tino Sehgal (Tate Modern/ Athens Roman Agora) and Marina Abramovic (Serpentine Gallery). Lately she has been making her own work and she is a recipient of Danceweb2015 Scholarship by Impulstanz festival in Vienna. She is a member of the educational program ‘Dancing to Connect’ by Stegi in collaboration with the Battery Dance Company (NY).
