See Performance Artists Get Buck Naked at MoMA Exhibit

Talk about work that leaves the artist feeling exposed. People are flocking to the Museum of Modern Art to see performance artist pioneer Marina Abramović's "The Artist is Present," which is filled with nekkidness. It marks the first large-scale U.S. retrospective of Abramović's work.

The piece that's got people talking is "Imponderabilia," in which two butt-naked performance artists face each other in a narrow passageway and visitors are supposed to squeeze between them to get to another room. It's supposed to force people to confront their discomfort with nudity. And discomfort they felt, indeed. Barbara Walters talked on The View about how awkward it was to walk past two au naturel men, one of whom was so well-endowed that there was little room to get by the guys.

Two other in-the-buff works that are on display are "Nude with Skeleton" and "Luminosity." The former is just what it sounds like. A stark-naked performer lies under a skeleton and gives it life with his or her breathing. In the latter piece, a nude performer is suspended on a wall and bathed in light, which makes it look like the body is floating.

Pervs, stay away from this exhibit; this isn't an opportunity to cop a feel. According to the New York Times, several museum-goers were kicked out for grabbing the artists' privates.

"The Artist is Present" runs through May 31. Museum entry costs $20. Be sure to ask about the audio program with commentary from Abramović, which is free.

Related Stories:
· MoMA [Official Site]
· Why Is It Ok To Take Photos of Some Art at MoMA and Not Others? [Jaunted]
· The Top Five Must-See Museum Exhibits for Spring [Jaunted]

[Photo: Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times]

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