200 Days, 200 Photo Books

Marco Anelli: Portraits In The Presence Of Marina Abramović

Damiani, Bologna, 2012, ISBN 978–88-6208–249-5

“During the performance „The Artist Is Present“ by Marina Abramović in the Spring of 2010, in MoMA New York, Marco Anelli spent 75 days with his camera capturing every face of the 1,545 visitors who had a chance to sit in silence opposite the famous Serbian performance art diva.

Although almost invisible and hidden behind his huge and heavy telephoto lens, Anelli became „an artist present“ himself and his portraits turned into a unique photographic durational performance.

This book is a precious collection of all of the portraits.

Taken from the same angle and in the same light, no matter who was captured – adult, child, old, young, unknown or well known, these portraits tell us in such a simple but strong way the stories of the special moments that these art lovers shared with Abramović. They possess such beauty, intimacy, power and a diversity of emotions that you might feel, leafing through the pages of the book, as if you were there, looking into all those eyes… and their gazes make you smile… or bring tears to your eyes too…”

-Snežana Golubović, Performance Artist, Fotografie Forum Frankfurt Member (Photos: Seweryn Zelazny)