Marina Abramović will be at TheMerode for a rare conversation with Kendell Geers
Marina Abramović is a revolutionary artist, widely regarded as the pioneer of performance art. She’s one of the most iconic and influential female artists in history — a trailblazer who broke through the male-dominated art world and redefined what art could be. For Abramović, art isn’t just something you make — it’s something you live. Her life and work have become legend, inspiring generations far beyond the confines of galleries and museums.
She brought performance art from its experimental beginnings into the mainstream, using her own body to test the limits of physical and mental endurance. Together with her partner Ulay, whom she met in Amsterdam in 1975, she gained global recognition for long-duration performances that pushed both artists to the edge. In her later solo work, she delves into spirituality and focuses on creating an exchange — where the audience becomes an active part of the piece and a shared energy emerges.
In 2024, she invited thousands of festival-goers at Glastonbury to press pause on the music and dancing — and instead, join her in seven minutes of total silence. No phones, no selfies, no distractions. Just a powerful call to “Give Unconditional Love to Each Other” and feel “positive energy in the entire universe” — a collective act of peace in a world shaken by war and violence.
One of her most unforgettable pieces was a 1988 performance in which she walked along the Great Wall of China to meet her partner Ulay in the middle, each beginning from opposite ends. That walk wasn’t just art — it was the end of a relationship, the beginning of myth, and a love story unlike any other. Who will ever forget the moment when they held hands two decades later in MoMa when “The Artist is Present” broke all attendance records as thousands of people queued for hours just to sit in front of Marina Abramović.
She has collaborated with cultural icons like James Franco, Jay-Z, Anohni and the Johnsons, Willem Dafoe — and even mentored Lady Gaga. Born in Belgrade (former Yugoslavia) in 1946, she has spent over five decades testing the limits of body, mind, and spirit.Her art is physical, spiritual, and radically raw. She challenges the boundary between artist and audience, showing us that transformation happens not just on canvas — but in presence, endurance, and vulnerability.
Now, in a rare, intimate conversation, Marina Abramović joins MC Art Matters host Kendell Geers. The two first met in 1999 during Jan Hoet’s groundbreaking “Zeitwenden” exhibition in Bonn and have remained close friends and kindred spirits ever since. Both share a passion for art’s political power — and a deep skepticism of the commercial art machine.
Expect a real conversation. No art-world buzzwords. No pretension. Just two visionaries exploring what it means to transform, heal, challenge, inspire and even provoke change simply by being artists who still believe in the power of art.
Art Matters with Marina Abramović
Tuesday, September 2 at 6:30 PM
TheMerode
Place Poelaert 6, 1000 Brussels
About TheMerode
TheMerode is a private members club that opened in November 2021, located in a listed townhouse in the heart of Brussels. It brings together over 2,000 members—40% of whom are women—from a wide range of nationalities, including Belgian, French, Italian, Dutch, and German. The club offers a peaceful workspace, private lounges, two restaurants, and a year-round programme of more than 150 talks, workshops, and events.
Notable guests welcomed in recent months include: Luc Tuymans, Jeanne Brun, Julien Creuzet, Francesca Gavin, Carla Arocha, Pascale Naessens, Christine Ockrent, Ilham Kadri, Nelly Rodi, Michelle Yeoh, Diane Govaerts, Selah Sue, Sophie Wilmes, Diane Von Furstenberg, Blanche de Richemont, Oliver Stone, François Hollande, Mathieu Ricard, Jean Todt, Alexandre Mars, Satish Kumar, Lukas Dhont, James Vincent, Bertrand Piccard, and Lorenzo Gatto.
The Merode mansion, originally built in the 16th century, was first renovated in 2010 by the Cercle de Lorraine and later transformed by TheMerode team a decade later. The building has been a listed heritage site since 1997. Renovation works were overseen by the Directorate of Cultural Heritage, with finishes crafted by Belgian artisan Eddy Dankers.
Art is an integral part of the TheMerode experience. Under the direction of Emmanuelle Indekeu, temporary exhibitions regularly highlight both emerging and established artists. The club collaborates with institutions such as La Monnaie, Art Brussels, the Venice Biennale, and the Queen Elisabeth Competition.
Two restaurants and a cocktail bar are located on site. CIAO, open to the public and led by chef Leonardo Iacometti and sommelier Sonia Capriolo, serves modern Italian cuisine and is featured in the 2024 Michelin and Gault & Millau guides. TheStables, operated by JML, offers a more casual menu, from breakfast to evening cocktails.
Lastly, ökēn provides a discreet and sensory cocktail experience, combining inventive mixology, immersive architecture, and curated music programming. Conceived as a hidden gem at the heart of TheMerode, ökēn welcomes both members and non-members for evenings that blend tasting with a refined, intimate atmosphere.
TheMerode is a certified B-Corp, a recognition of its commitment to sustainable, inclusive, and responsible practices. As an active player rooted in its local ecosystem, TheMerode aims to give back to society by supporting talent, culture, and education for the benefit of communities and future generations.