Marina Abramović is a pioneering Serbian performance artist known for her bodily extremes, both emotional and physical. For her 2010 performance installation The Artist is Present, she pushed herself again in both regards, as she sat immobile in a single chair for 736 hours and 30 minutes. The museum encouraged visitors to sit directly across from her and maintain eye contact for as long as they wanted, some for just a few minutes and others for an entire day. Over the course of three months, she met the gaze and shared moments with over 1,000 visitors, many of which were moved to tears by her intense and emotive stare.

On the opening night, her estranged partner Ulay surprisingly appeared and sat opposite her. The pair had lived and worked together for 12 years, but after ending their relationship did not speak for over 20 years. Their emotional encounter was recorded on video and became a viral phenomenon, marking the only time she made physical contact during the performance’s run.

Learn more about the pair and their reconciliation HERE.