The Gropius Bau presents Marina Abramović's major retrospective 'Balkan Erotic Epic,' running from April 15 to August 23, 2026. This exhibition marks the artist's first major Berlin presentation since the 1990s, showcasing her groundbreaking work in performance art that spans over five decades. The exhibition revolves around themes of rituals, myths, eroticism, death, and the Balkans, featuring both historical and contemporary pieces, including live performances staged daily.
The exhibition includes installations featuring naked bodies, oversized phallic symbols, and cemetery landscapes, alongside multi-channel video installations like 'Tito's Funeral' and pieces from her early career such as 'Lips of Thomas' and 'Dragon Heads I.' At 80 years old, Abramović continues to provoke and push boundaries by exploring the body as a site of desire, vulnerability, and transience, while also addressing the under-treated topic of women's sexuality later in life.
## Why it matters This exhibition offers Berlin-based artists and cultural workers a rare opportunity to experience Abramović's influential performance art firsthand, providing insights into her approach to durational work and the abject. It serves as inspiration for how performance can explore deeply personal and collective experiences through ritual and embodiment.
