Walk Through Walls

A Memoir

By: Marina Abramovic

Narrated by: Marina Abramovic

"I had experienced absolute freedom - I had felt that my body was without boundaries, limitless; that pain didn't matter, that nothing mattered at all - and it intoxicated me."

In 2010 more than 750,000 people stood in line at Marina Abramović's MoMA retrospective for the chance to sit across from her and communicate with her nonverbally in an unprecedented durational performance that lasted more than 700 hours. This celebration of nearly 50 years of groundbreaking performance art demonstrated once again that Marina Abramović is truly a force of nature.

The child of Communist war-hero parents under Tito's regime in postwar Yugoslavia, she was raised with a relentless work ethic. Even as she was beginning to build an international artistic career, Marina lived at home under her mother's abusive control, strictly obeying a 10:00 p.m. curfew. But nothing could quell her insatiable curiosity, her desire to connect with people, or her distinctly Balkan sense of humor - all of which inform her art and her life.

The beating heart of Walk Through Walls is an operatic love story - a 12-year collaboration with fellow performance artist Ulay, much of which was spent penniless in a van traveling across Europe - a relationship that began to unravel and came to a dramatic end atop the Great Wall of China.

Marina's story, by turns moving, epic, and dryly funny, informs an incomparable artistic career that involves pushing her body past the limits of fear, pain, exhaustion, and danger in an uncompromising quest for emotional and spiritual transformation. A remarkable work of performance in its own right, Walk Through Walls is a vivid and powerful rendering of the unparalleled life of an extraordinary artist.

©2016 Marina Abramovic (P)2016 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Artist Marina Abramovic narrates this memoir documenting her life and 50 years of performance art. Her Yugoslavian-accented English and unique phrasing patterned with starts and stops make this listening experience as distinctive as Abramovic's art.... Like her live audiences, Abramovic's listeners enter into her narrated performance art and discover that 'the artist is present.'" ( AudioFile)

Amazing autobiography !!

Wow , this is amazing book . There is no one dull moment while listening to Marians super interesting life . I learned from much from just listening to this book about art , spiritual and life . It’s a must read book.

Must Read

Moving. Deeply Insightful. Inspiring. Authentic tales of a total badass! Her honesty and pure intention in her work is golden in this world. I wish she would write more! Thanks Marina!

Beautiful

Enough said.

Enough said.

Enough said.

Enough said.

Enough said.

Enough said.

Enough said.

There that’s eight unique words.

Incredibly Moving

Listening to Marina narrate the story of her life, was a gift to me. I highly recommend everyone to listen - those that adore her and those that are suspicious of her. The suspicious ones will change their mind.

Fascinating memoir; excellent narration

All I knew about Abramovic was that she cut herself during a performance. Wow, that was only the tip of the iceberg on this amazing lady. This is a human story -- love, loss, shame, pride -- an Anramovic isn't afraid to talk about any of it. Besides being a fascinating story, Abramovic's narration was some of the best in the business. To hear her in the Eastern European accented English read this book, which is so rich in the history of her country and her people, was a great experience. She read with passion. I felt like she was really reading to me. One of the best audiobooks I have experienced, and my new favorite memoir!!

The perfect audiobook

I loved the performance -what a precise word to describe this intelligent, heartful and wise biography. If only every person in the world would hear this. Authentic, beautiful, unexpected.

It will change your life

Of course I knew about Marina - but was barely familiar with her work. I am over the moon that I chose to listen to her story, I’m sure it has changed my life completely: and now I have to find out, what I am now. Deeply grateful.

BRILLIANT!!!!!!! SHE IS THE BEST!!!!!

I love her so much!!! She is truly inspiring and magnifcent!!!! A total must read!!!!!

Life is Art

It’s hard to describe how much I admire Marina. Her absolute force of Will in pursuit of her art is breathtaking in its pureness and intensity. What better way to experience it than from the artist’s own lips?

What a life!

Wonderful. Inspiring. I learned so much about Marina, her work and performance art in general. She is an amazing person. This book was really compelling, I didn’t want it to end.