Marina Abramovic and Ulay - The Lovers (The Great Wall: Lovers at the Brink), 1988
In 1988, Ulay and Abramovic decided to end their relationship and to mark this with a performance, which became the legendary endpoint of their collaboration. Conceived initially as a performative marriage – with the duo originally intending to meet in the middle and marry – in the years attempting to obtain Chinese Governmental authorization for the work to take place, the couple’s relationship had drastically altered. Lies, infidelity, and a botched threesome saw a productive relationship become a toxic and emotionally abusive ruin. Together, the decision was made that once permission had been granted, they would walk the Great Wall of China to separate as lovers, forever.
Abramovic started walking at the eastern end of the Wall, at Shan Hai Guan, on the shores of the Yellow Sea, Gulf of Bohai, walking westward. Ulay started at the western end of the Wall, at Jaiyuguan, the south-western periphery of the Gobi Desert, walking eastward. After they both continuously walked for 90 says, they met at Er Lang Shn, in Shen Mu, Shaanxi province.
Beyond the beauty of art, during the travel, Ulay impregnated the translator accompanying his journey, they married shortly after. Abramovic, desperate, got a breast enlargement.
