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Eroticism, Balkan tradition, and performance in a work that challenges the limits of the body and perception.
«The hardest thing is to create something that is unlike anything else, because it is demanding for everyone»
Marina Abramović
After presenting 7 Deaths of Maria Callas at the Liceu in 2023, Serbian artist and mother of performance art Marina Abramović now brings Balkan Erotic Epic, one of her most daring and provocative works. This unclassifiable spectacle, positioned between dance and performance art, merges elements of performative tradition with sensuality and eroticism, reflecting Abramović’s ongoing exploration of the body, sexuality, and the limits of human experience. The piece is deeply rooted in the cultural context of the Balkans—a region steeped in history, conflict, and a rich cultural heritage—making it not only an aesthetic challenge but also a profound reflection on identity and the political and social tensions of the territory.
In Balkan Erotic Epic, Abramović fuses eroticism with Balkan folklore and mythology, creating a work of striking visual and emotional power. Beyond being an exploration of eroticism, the piece delves into the emotions, tensions, and contradictions inherent in the region’s culture. The artist uses the body not only as a means of expression but also as a space to challenge social and political norms related to sexuality, violence, and power.
The work is structured as a series of performative acts that intertwine elements of dance, theater, music, and multimedia. The piece stands out for its striking visual imagery, featuring a series of provocative and symbolically charged representations designed to alter and challenge perception. Through the use of dance and movement, the performers and dancers convey intense emotions, often infused with a primal and untamed energy, while the music—mostly rooted in Balkan traditions—enhances the piece’s unique atmosphere.
One of the most striking aspects of Balkan Erotic Epic is its ability to integrate the physical and psychological dimensions into a visual narrative. Eroticism is not merely portrayed on a superficial level; it becomes a language that expresses both the beauty and the violence of human relationships. The piece explores how desire, passion, and power are intricately intertwined, challenging conventional notions of gender and sexuality while encouraging the audience to confront their own biases and expectations regarding these themes.
In terms of staging, the work employs a symbolic use of space and lighting to reinforce its visceral and evocative atmosphere. The minimalist yet highly effective set design focuses attention on the performers’ bodies, fully immersed in a series of rituals, movements, and gestures that often blur the line between the grotesque and the sublime. The bodies become objects of desire, conflict, and power. The latest creation by Marina Abramović—an unpredictable artist and a living legend—takes the stage at the Gran Teatre del Liceu.
With the support:
With the collaboration of:
Benefactor of the Dance Circle:
With funding from the Ministry of Culture, within the framework of Barcelona’s Cultural Capital initiative promoted by the Ministry of Culture and the Barcelona City Council.
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Dates and tickets
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| Exclusive function for under 35s | |||||
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Are you between 18 and 35 years old?
Join the LiceUnder35 Community and come see the Balkan Eoritc Epic on Monday, January 26 for €20.
Attention: information about the show Balkan Erotic Epic
In Balkan Erotic Epic, positioned between performance, dance, and a sensorial stage experience, Abramović fuses the ancient myths and legends of the Balkans with folkloric traditions and eroticism, creating a work of great visual and emotional power. The artist, using her plastic grammar and a high-voltage feminist statement, employs the body as a means of expression but also as a space to question the social and political norms surrounding sexuality, violence, and power.
As you know, this show by Marina Abramović, the mother of performance art, premiered worldwide on October 9 in Manchester, and given the nature of what it has ultimately become, we believe you should be aware of certain details about the performance prior to attending:
• 18+ only. ID checks will be carried out at the entrance.
• The performance contains full nudity and explicit sexual scenes, including simulated acts.
• Photosensitive epilepsy: the show uses lighting effects similar to those of a mirror ball.
• Photography is strictly prohibited during the performance.
• All audience members will be asked to store their phones in lockable security pouches, which will remain with you and be unlocked at the end of the performance (or if you need to leave earlier). This ensures the safety and privacy of the performers and allows for full immersion in Balkan Erotic Epic.
• The experience lasts approximately 3 hours, and due to its nature, entry and exit from the hall will be allowed at any time during the performance. The bar service will remain open throughout (please note that mobile phones will stay inside the security pouches for the entire duration. This means that if you use mobile payment (NFC), it will not be available at the bar. We recommend bringing a physical card or cash).
Artistic profile
- Artist, director, concept and design
- Marina Abramović
- Associate Director
- Georgine Maria-Magdalena Balk
- Choreographer
- Blenard Azizaj
- Durational Performance Director
- Billy Zhao
- Film Director
- Nabil Elderkin
- Composer
- Marko Nikodijević
- Composer and Sound Designer
- Luka Kozlovački
- Lighting Designer
- Georg Veit and Urs Schönebaum
- Set Designer
- Anna Schöttl
- Costume Designer
- Roksanda Ilinčić
- Animation
- Sonia Alcón & Fredrik Nordbeck
- Photography
- Marco Anelli
- Creative Consultant / Singer
- Svetlana Spajić
- Creative Consultant / Singer
- Aleksandar Timotić
- Performance Artist / Co-Creator of the Role
- Elke Luyten
- Performance Artist / Co-Creator of the Role
- Maria Stamenković Herranz
- Assistant Choreographer
- Rowan Schratzberger
- Assistant Set Designer
- Helene Schönebaum
- Intimacy Coordinator
- Tigger Blaize
- Costume Collaboration and Supervision
- Shanti Freed
- Singer and Band Leader
- Dragana Jovanović
- Animators
- Fredrik Nordbeck and Gideon Prins
- Rotoscopy for animation
- Sonia Alcón, Alessandra Cesarato, Natascha Jakobs-Linssen and Gideon Prins
- Live action for animation
- Sonia Alcón, Jojo Alcón Zavieh, Marianne Barendsen, Raquel Diniz, Adriana Fernandes, Lynn Hatzius, Dana Kamhawi, Fredrik Nordbeck, Deborah Resing and Kirk Zavieh
- Creative Consultant / Executive Producer for Marina Abramović
- Rafi Gokay Wol
- Creative Consultant / Producer for Marina Abramović
- Yasemin Kandemiroğlu
- Co-production
- Factory International, Manchester; Berliner Festspiele, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Park Avenue Armory, Ruhrtriennale, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg and WestK
- Produced by
- Factory International, Manchester
- Production Manager
- Jim Leaver
- Company Stage Manager
- Leah Butterworth
- Stage Manager
- Rachel Glover
- Assistant Stage Manager
- Jade Fearnley
- Production Carpenter
- Craig Emerson
- Production Sound Engineer
- Rob Parkinson
- Lighting Programmer
- Rob Halliday
- Production Video Engineer
- Adrien Corcilius
- Costume Assistant
- Tsubi Du
- Personal Assistant to Marina Abramović
- Declan Rooney
- Executive Producer for Factory International
- Martha Wilson
- Producer for Factory International
- Rebecca Jones
- Assistant Producer for Factory International
- Rebecca Burgess
Hand program
Hand program
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Balkan Erotic Epic
Monday, January 26 at 7:30 PM
Opera + Food Stands
SOLD OUT
La Trinae by Radio Primavera Sound at the Liceu!
Before the performance, a live episode of the podcast La Trinae will be recorded in the Foyer. Access to the podcast is exclusive to Under35 ticket holders and requires prior reservation (you will receive an email), subject to availability.
