Marina Abramović‘s Balkan Erotic Epic (2005) is a provocative exploration of ancient Balkan fertility rituals and the sacred role of sexuality in cultural identity. In this video work, Abramović reenacts traditional practices—such as women exposing their breasts to the sun or their vulvas to the rain, and men engaging in symbolic masturbation with the earth—to highlight the spiritual and communal aspects of these rites. By bringing these ancestral customs into contemporary art, she challenges modern perceptions of eroticism and invites viewers to reconsider the deep connections between sexuality, nature, and tradition.
An extract from the pioneering Balkan Erotic Epic (2005) multi-channel video installation from Marina Abramović. To watch the full film, click here
