Rest Energy is a 1980 performance art piece created and performed by then-performance artist duo Marina Abramovic and Ulay and recorded in Amsterdam.Four minutes in duration, Abramovic has described it as one of two of the most difficult pieces she has ever done, saying
'I was not in charge. In Rest Energy we actually held an arrow on the weight of our bodies, and the arrow is pointed right into my heart. We had two small microphones near our hearts, so we could hear our heartbeats. As our performance was progressing, heartbeats were becoming more and more intense, and though it lasted just four minutes and ten seconds, I’m telling you, for me it was forever. It was a performance about the complete and total trust'.


'Rest Energy' has originally been pa…t of 'That Self'.

Ulay and Abramovic said of the series 'That Self': 'Our interest is relation. With our "Relation work" we cause a third existence, which carries "Vital Energy". This third energy existence conjured by us does not depend on us any longer, but has its own quality which we call That Self. Three as a number means nothing else but "That Self".' 'That Self' (1980) actually includes various components, which can also function as separate works. The work opens with three monochrome colour fields - red, blue and yellow - that remain on the screen for some time. This is accompanied by a sustained tone, which now and then becomes slightly higher. After this non-figurative opening, 'That Self' continues with four performances, especially executed for the purpose of this film. The common starting point of these separate components is hypnosis. Ulay and Abramovic said: 'We had training in hypnosis. Our aims were to search and explore the subconscious. We chose to realize three colour fields and four visions which were described by us under that treatment. The four visions were translated into performances for film.' These performances are not about extending limits by means of physical exhaustion, but rather, about the power of concentration. In 'Point of Contact' (January/August 1980, film studio, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and summer 1980, Dublin, Ireland), Ulay and Abramovic, both dressed in black trousers and jacket, with a white shirt underneath, stand face-to-face. They look into each other's eyes, and, with arms bent, point their forefingers at each other. Without realizing it themselves, Ulay and Abramovic are holding their fingers at practically the same height during the six minutes of the performance. Their fingertips are almost touching. 'Rest Energy' (January/August 1980, Filmstudio, Amsterdam) is the second work in this series of four. Ulay and Abramovic draw a large bow and arrow, one holding each side. The arrowhead is pointing at Abramovic's heart. The slightest movement could be fatal. Microphones on their clothes pick up their quickening heart beats and Ulay's irregular breathing. After four minutes, they relax the tension on the bow, and Abramovic is out of danger. The third work is also short: it lasts only nine minutes. 'Nature of Mind' (January/August 1980, Filmstudio, Amsterdam) features Abramovic, who is wearing a green outfit. She is standing at the edge of some water with her arms stretching upwards. After some time, from a higher position, Ulay, dressed entirely in red, falls into the water, passing Abramovic and immediately disappearing under the water. While he is falling, they touch very briefly. 'That Self' concludes with 'Timeless Point of View' (January/August 1980, IJselmeer, Marken, the Netherlands). During the ten minutes of this performance, Abramovic rows away from us towards the horizon. The boat is equipped with microphones that transmit the sound of the oars and the sloshing of the water to the shore, where Ulay picks them up through headphones. Read more...