The German edition of the men's magazine GQ awarded Marina Abramović the Art Icon award - at its 25th Men of the Year gala. The legendary performance artist then asked everyone at the rally in Berlin for silence.
She asked the audience, who were seated at long tables at the gala dinner, to remain silent, respectfully. Everyone just had to touch the shoulder of the person next to them and silently think about love for their neighbors and the planet. The crowd obeyed.
Marina Abramović, receiving the award late Thursday evening, on her 77th birthday, gave a speech in which she pointed to the misfortune and wars in the world. Everything that is said about it, she explained, especially about Israel and the war in Gaza, can quickly be misinterpreted.
Although the magazine's awards are called Men of the Year, GQ has long been awarding them to women as well. Abramović received the award joyfully: "I am the man of the year."
GQ also honored German actor Louis Hoffmann, US anti-racism activist and football quarterback Colin Kaepernick, French fashion designer Ludovic de Saint Cernen and American singer Erika Bada.
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