Yvonne Rainer Confronts Marina Abramovic Over MOCA Fundraiser's Humiliating Performances

Yvonne Rainer has taken a stand against Marina Abramovic regarding a contentious fundraiser set to take place at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles on November 12. Rainer expressed her disapproval of performances where young artists undergo degrading experiences for affluent patrons, such as spending three hours on rotating lazy susans and lying naked beneath skeletons. A volunteer performer mentioned the possibility of being fed, drinking, or fondled for $150 plus a museum membership during a fifteen-hour engagement. Rainer likened the event to Pier Paolo Pasolini's 1975 film Salò, accusing MOCA of insensitivity and Abramovic of a lack of compassion. This dispute unfolds amid Occupy Wall Street protests against wealth inequality, highlighting the extreme affluence in the Los Angeles art community, which could alienate donors like Eli Broad and David Geffen.