Starting this summer, Marina Abramović will release a series of NFT drops as part of a new project called Marina Abramović Element (MAE). According to a recent press release, the project was born from the artist’s interest in connecting the inherent immateriality of performance art with that of digital art.
Abramović has been a formidable fixture in the field of performance art since it emerged as a distinct genre in the 1970s. Her foray into the NFT space is a natural progression of her longtime propensity to challenge conventional creative boundaries and push the limits of human experience.
What Is Marina Abramović Element?
Marina Abramović partnered with TAEX, a digital art marketplace, to create three themed NFT drops that dive into different facets of her work. The three segments, which feature avatars of the artist, will be released from May through September of this year. The first is Art, which explores the symbols and archetypes present in Abramović’s practice. The second is Life, which highlights her use of gestures, outfits, and locations. The third NFT drop focuses on the Marina Abramović Institute, a performance art organization that teaches the Abramović Method.
According to TAEX founder Inna Bazhenova, MAE will offer “an immersive experience where participants from the worlds of art and Web3 become active co-creators of [Abramović’s] legacy.” In a statement, Abramović also elaborated on the project: “Working today with technology and creating my own avatar is a way to develop a new relationship between the performer and the public. The public’s interaction provides the process through which immateriality can be transformed into energy.”
“You Will Have a Crystal in Your Body in the Fifth Dimension”
What makes MAE a particularly interesting and innovative NFT art project is its use of gamification. MAE offers participants Transformation Crystals, which can be earned by playing games during the second and third NFT drops. These digital crystal collectibles will allow participants to mint limited-edition 5D MAE Performance tokens and 5D MAE Avatar tokens.
According to Marina Abramović, a person can only experience 5D—the fifth dimension—by “renewing their physical being.” She described the process as such: “You will be able to carry your body to the fourth dimension, but not to the fifth dimension because your body is too heavy. You will have a crystal in your body in the fifth dimension.”
MAE to Culminate in “The Great Mint”
After the third drop of the three-part NFT collection, MAE will end with a special event called “The Great Mint” in November. The event will allow participants to mint the project’s final and most exclusive NFT: the MAE Token, which takes the form of Abramović’s avatar performing new versions of her most famous pieces.
The MAE Token is designed to transcend “the boundaries of physicality, enabling impossible performances.” In order to mint the MAE Token, participants must have amassed three Epic NFTs from each of the drops plus a Transformation Crystal, or three Rare NFTs plus a Transformation Crystal.
