In Jay Z released his music video for Picasso Baby, entitles Picasso Baby: A Performance Art Film. The video was inspired by Marina Abramovic's 2010 performance The Artist is Present at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In the piece Marina sat completely silent and still in a chair across from exhibition visitors for a total of 736 hours. For the music video Jay Z set up shop in New York's Pace Gallery and rapped his song for six hours whilst interacting with various celebrities and fans. Marina Abramovic herself was present at the event and features in the video, but she has now spoken up against the rapper.
Here is the Jay Z Picasso Baby video:
Recently Marina spoke to Spike Art Magazine and came out with some hard truths on their collaboration:
'I AM VERY PISSED BY THIS, SINCE HE ADAPTED MY WORK ONLY UNDER ONE CONDITION: THAT HE WOULD HELP MY INSTITUTE. WHICH HE DIDN’T.'
You did plan the shoot and your appearance together?
The day before, he came to my office and I gave him an entire power point presentation and said: okay, you can help me, because I really need help to build this thing. Then he just completely used me. And that wasn’t fair.
Read the full article : http://www.spikeartmagazine.com/en/articles/i-will-never-do-it-again
Since Spike published their interview, this has been pretty big news with Time, Pitchfork and many more picking up on the news. Marina's final conclusion? “In the end it was only a one-way transaction. I will never do it again.”
UPDATE: Jay-Z did donate!
The Marina Abramovic institute has issued a public apology upon learning that Jay-Z did in fact donate as promised. Turns out Marina was never told about the donation made under his real name Shawn Carter.
Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present trailer