Marina Abramovic The artist is present

Documenting performance art is inherently problematic, as still images are capable of convincing viewers of the presence of an activity that is actually absent. This exhibition catalogue attempts the even more difficult task of documenting a performance artist's entire career. Within, Marina Abramovic's work is divided chronologically into three periods: early conceptual and rhythm-based works and solo performances, 1968-75; her collaborations with Ulay, 1976-88; and solo works, performances, and installations, 1995-2010. Works are illustrated and accompanied by descriptions, although the latter are sometimes humorously brief. Freeing the Voice, for instance, is described as "I lie on the floor with my head tilted backward. I scream until I lose my Voice." The all-important context (biographical, historical, theoretical) for Abromovic's career is summarized in a series of short essays by Biesenbach, Jovana Stokic, Arthur C. Danto, Nancy Spector, and Chrissie Iles. Although the text cannot recreate the performances (as MoMA did for the opening of the exhibition), an audio tour of the catalogue is provided by the artist on the included CD-ROM, giving listeners a better sense of Abramovic's personality and motivation. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers. E. K. Mix Butler University