I Made a Video Game of “The Artist Is Present.” Marina Abramović Couldn’t Sit Through It.
I Made a Video Game of “The Artist Is Present.” Marina Abramović Couldn’t Sit Through It.
I Made a Video Game of “The Artist Is Present.” Marina Abramović Couldn’t Sit Through It.
Pippin Barr
March, 31, 2025
Summary
In this reflective piece, game designer Pippin Barr recounts creating a video game adaptation of Marina Abramović’s performance The Artist Is Present, where players wait in real time to sit with a virtual version of the artist. Initially a bold teaching example, the project evolved into an exploration of time, endurance, and presence. The game mirrors the original performance’s long durations, emotional impact, and unpredictability, challenging standard game design norms. By enforcing active waiting, it emphasizes the psychological and experiential aspects of time. Even Abramović herself played the game — only to be booted for walking away mid-queue to make lunch.
Reference
Barr, P. (2025, March 31). I made a video game of “The Artist Is Present.” Marina Abramović couldn’t sit through it. The MIT Press Reader. https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/i-made-a-video-game-of-the-artist-is-present-marina-abramovic-couldnt-sit-through-it/