designboom · Creativity & design

Marina Abramović's "Seven Deaths" Installation in Copenhagen

Marina Abramović's "Seven Deaths" installation is being exhibited in the Cisternerne, an underground former reservoir in Copenhagen. The work features the artist portraying the deaths of seven operatic heroines, originally made famous by Maria Callas.

The installation consists of short films where Abramović, alongside actor Willem Dafoe, enacts these deaths, accompanied by recordings of Callas's voice. The experience takes about an hour, with viewers moving through the dimly lit space to watch each film.

Each film depicts a different operatic heroine's demise, drawing from stories like Violetta's death from tuberculosis in "La traviata" and Tosca's fatal jump. Abramović's body is central to each scene, with the films offering a cinematic scale to these final moments.

The audience's movement is a key part of the installation. Viewers watch one film at a time and then relocate to another viewing area in the dark space, creating a shared rhythm and a physical engagement with the work.

The separation of Abramović's on-screen performance from Callas's recorded voice is a notable aspect, especially in the resonant underground setting. Callas's voice provides continuity between the repeated deaths depicted visually.

Abramović describes the work as an exchange where she "dies seven times" for the audience's time. The installation explores the idea that life continues even after perceived endings, with the physical act of moving between films reinforcing this concept.

The exhibition is located in Cisternerne, Søndermarken park, Copenhagen, and runs until November 30, 2026. The project is part of designboom's "SPECTATOR AND SPECTACLE" chapter.

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