Abramović’s Alien Landscape: Performance Art Meets Inflatable Installations in New York
Snowy/Windy/Spring on Planet Z eschews the selfie culture of immersive museums, offering a soundscape of exoplanets and an alien environment at the first permanent home for inflatable art.
Performance artist Marina Abramović has unveiled Snowy/Windy/Spring on Planet Z, a new inflatable installation at New York’s Balloon Museum. The exhibition, which opened earlier this month, features an immersive landscape designed to evoke an alien environment. The Balloon Museum, described as the first permanent home for inflatable art, has established its flagship location in the former Tin Building, replacing a planned food hall with a space dedicated to this medium.
The inaugural exhibition, Daydream, presents works by 14 artists, including Turner Prize-winner Martin Creed, Karina Smigla-Bobinski, and Onionlab. Following a successful 2023 pop-up in the city, the Rome-born institution chose New York for its permanent base. Director Roberto Fantauzzi stated the museum aims to bridge the gap between kid-friendly attractions like the Museum of Ice Cream and traditional art institutions, positioning itself in the middle of both worlds.
Abramović’s installation distinguishes itself by forgoing reflective surfaces, a common feature in many immersive venues that cater to selfie culture. Instead, visitors don wireless noise-canceling headphones to hear the artist recite exoplanet names in a slow monotone. The physical space includes oversized inflatable blades of grass and falling paper snow, creating a sensory experience that Abramović describes as an exchange requiring the audience to invest their time.
“I’ve never done anything like this in my life,” Abramović said, noting that while she initially viewed balloon art as kitsch, she recognised its resonance with performance art. The temporality of inflatables, which eventually lose their air, aligns with the ephemeral nature of her practice. She views the project as a unique challenge, comparing her current commissions to Renaissance artists working under strict patronage, where constraints often lead to masterpieces.
The 79-year-old artist has recently engaged in various commercial collaborations, including olive oil, tinctures, facial lotion, and Illy espresso cups. She approaches these opportunities with the same rigour as her artistic endeavours, stating she likes it when teams provide strict rules that force her to create something significant. The installation remains on view at the Balloon Museum in New York.
