Abramovic et Ulay

Modus vivendi, 1985

© Ulay Abramovic / SOCAN (2022) • Photo: David Lubarsky

Abramovic et Ulay, Modus vivendi, © Ulay Abramovic / SOCAN (2022) • Photo: David Lubarsky
Artist
Abramovic et Ulay
Title
Modus vivendi
Dimensions and medium
2 colour Polaroid prints, 226.1 × 111.1 cm (each element)
Artwork description
The photographic diptych titled Modus vivendi is related to a series of performances of the same name by Abramovic and Ulay created during the first half of the 1980s. Using the still-evolving technology of Polaroid photography, Abramovic and Ulay created life-size photographs that froze, in the immediacy of the process, moments in which they embody male and female archetypes. On the left, visible through a velum embellished with vegetative motifs, a woman from an unknown era, dressed in a long white gown, evokes the fecundity of life with hieratic grace. On the right, a man dressed in black sits on a large box of disposable diapers, an essential product of our modern consumer lives. Positioned before a startling drawing of Siamese skeletons, the powerless procreator contemplates the monstrosity of infant mortality.

See Also

Venetian Blind, 1970, printed of 2002, 24 Chromogenic prints, Edition of 3.
Michael Snow, Venetian Blind, 1970, printed of 2002 Venetian Blind, 1970, printed of 2002, 24 Chromogenic prints, Edition of 3.
Double Talk, 1982, Tinted gelatin silver print, 3/10.
George Legrady, Double Talk, 1982 Double Talk, 1982, Tinted gelatin silver print, 3/10.
Nicolaas, 1995, 15 chromogenic prints.
Alain Laframboise, Nicolaas, 1995 Nicolaas, 1995, 15 chromogenic prints.
Palais Garnier Paris XXXI, 2005, Chromogenic print, 3/6.
Candida Höfer, Palais Garnier Paris XXXI, 2005 Palais Garnier Paris XXXI, 2005, Chromogenic print, 3/6.
Je m’effondrai en larmes sur le lit, 1978, Gelatin silver print.
Raymonde April, Je m’effondrai en larmes sur le lit, 1978 Je m’effondrai en larmes sur le lit, 1978, Gelatin silver print.
El Primer Dia, 2003, 1 colour Inkjet print and 4 black and white Inkjet prints.
Sergio Vega, El Primer Dia, 2003 El Primer Dia, 2003, 1 colour Inkjet print and 4 black and white Inkjet prints.
Rat Poison Suicide (de la série « The Morgue »), 1992, Cibachrome print, 1/3.
Andres Serrano, Rat Poison Suicide (de la série « The Morgue »), 1992 Rat Poison Suicide (de la série « The Morgue »), 1992, Cibachrome print, 1/3.
The Last Image. Blind with couch, 2010, 4 Inkjet prints mounted on aluminum, 2 plexiglass casings, and 2 metal frames, 1/3.
Sophie Calle, Aveugle au divan (de la série « La Dernière image », 2010), 2010 The Last Image. Blind with couch, 2010, 4 Inkjet prints mounted on aluminum, 2 plexiglass casings, and 2 metal frames, 1/3.
Cathexis No. 48 (de la série « Cathexis Series », 1982), 1982, printed of 1993, Chromogenic print and decals.
Joseph Kosuth, Cathexis No. 48 (de la série « Cathexis Series », 1982), 1982, printed of 1993 Cathexis No. 48 (de la série « Cathexis Series », 1982), 1982, printed of 1993, Chromogenic print and decals.
Debout sur le rivage, 1984, 9 silver gelatin prints.
Raymonde April, Debout sur le rivage, 1984 Debout sur le rivage, 1984, 9 silver gelatin prints.
Self Portrait with Skeleton, 2003, Cibachrome print, 4/5.
Marina Abramovic, Self Portrait with Skeleton, 2003 Self Portrait with Skeleton, 2003, Cibachrome print, 4/5.
Irises, after Van Gogh (from Pictures of Magazines), 2004, Chromogenic print, 5/6.
Vik Muniz, Irises, after Van Gogh (from Pictures of Magazines), 2004 Irises, after Van Gogh (from Pictures of Magazines), 2004, Chromogenic print, 5/6.
Exposure #44, Barmsee, Bavaria, 08.18.06, 4:37 p.m., 2006, Inkjet print, 5/5.
Barbara Probst, Exposure #44, Barmsee, Bavaria, 08.18.06, 4:37 p.m., 2006 Exposure #44, Barmsee, Bavaria, 08.18.06, 4:37 p.m., 2006, Inkjet print, 5/5.
Shipbreaking No. 29, Chittagong, Bangladesh, 2001, printed of 2002, Chromogenic print, 2/10.
Edward Burtynsky, Shipbreaking No. 29, Chittagong, Bangladesh, 2001, printed of 2002 Shipbreaking No. 29, Chittagong, Bangladesh, 2001, printed of 2002, Chromogenic print, 2/10.
Spa, 2000, Chromogenic print, 3/4.
Lynne Cohen, Spa, 2000 Spa, 2000, Chromogenic print, 3/4.
Loading...

Only a part of the collection is currently online and the artworks on display at the MAC are accompanied by the icon

The contents presented in this section are not exhaustive and may be subject to revision. If you have comments to share, or errors to report, please contact us at [email protected].

For information about copyright and intellectual property, or for a reproduction request, see our Terms of Use.