She Chooses Death – How Should We Endure?

Performance artist Marina Abramović, known for her half-century career exploring life's boundaries and power structures, presents "Seven Deaths" at Cisternerne in Copenhagen. The exhibition focuses on the demise of seven iconic opera heroines, with Abramović herself taking on the central roles.

This new work delves into a recurring motif in art and opera: the death of women. The exhibition confronts the common critique that it is problematic for female characters to die at the end of a narrative. Abramović's piece seems to engage with this debate, questioning whether the feminist potential of an artwork lies in its happy or tragic ending.

The opera characters featured are Violetta, Tosca, Carmen, Norma, Desdemona, Lucia, and Madama Butterfly. While patriarchal structures often contribute to the tragic fates of these women within their respective dramas, the exhibition prompts a consideration of art's purpose beyond a simple happy conclusion.

"Seven Deaths" is on display at Cisternerne until November 30. The venue itself, Cisternerne, is an underground former water reservoir, adding a unique and atmospheric setting to Abramović's exploration of mortality and artistic representation.