'Blue Period' shows a close-up of Marina Abramovic in monochrome blue. As an unidentified pop song is looping on the soundtrack, she rather expressively bites her fingernails. Her saliva-covered fingertips gleam as they reflect the light. Her fingers are rubbing against her teeth. At some moments, she has the look of suffering and, at others, she apathetically stares into the camera. Her fingers seem to have a life on their own as her face grimaces from pain and disgust while she bites her nails. Thus, in its appearance, 'Blue Period' is quite reminiscent of earlier works that question presupposed bodily boundaries in an attempt to overcome pain, disgust and fear. But, at the same time, the use of the colour blue refers to a second tradition in Abramovic'… work, which plays on the symbolism of colour, often in terms of its presumed capability to transfer energy. The video is part of the 16-channel installation 'Video Portrait Gallery' (Abramovic 1975-2002). Read more...