Men and women began to compete for the most transgressive act. Using the rose’s thorns, they stabbed the skin of her abdomen. The scalpel was used to carve shallow cuts into her neck and arms, so she could feel the blood run down. Someone placed a lit cigarette into her hand, but when she didn’t squeeze it, they took it back and pressed the lit end against her skin, extinguishing it on her flesh.
Rhythm 0 is widely regarded as a terrifying demonstration of the human capacity for violence when social constraints are removed and accountability is surrendered. Abramović proved that if you give people absolute power over another human being, a significant portion will choose to abuse it. marina abramovic rhythm 0