Balkans. Erotic epic.
Marina Abramović is a Yugoslavian ( or balkanic) artist. Since the beginning of her career, she has pioneered the use of performance as a visual art form. The human body, emptied from any libido, has been both her subject and medium. She is best known for her work (and relationship) with artist Ulay, and her works have been included into countless international exhibitions and events.
One of the most interesting aspects of her work, is that exploring the physical and mental limits of her being, she has pioneered the use of performance arts in sociology and anthropology.
From medieval times almost to the beginning of the 20th century, men and women from small villages in the Balkans believed they could use their sex organs as magic tools to reach to the higher forces, to the gods: copulating with the earth to boost the crops for example, or showing their genitals to the sky to scare the demons that caused storms. In 2005, Marina shot a series of seven videos depicting some of these ancient rituals from her native land, the Balkans: re-enacting (with scientific accuracy) the rites related to fertility and virility.
It is a stunning experience, viewing the intrinsic meaning of various gestures, that have lost their entire erotic arousal. Interpolated throughout, are reflections from the artist on the genesis and meaning of the project.
Mavrud „istoria bez kray”
Mavrud is the wine that best describes this mixture of savage power, ritualistic arousal and boldness. It is an ancient grape, tracing its lineage back to the Thracians. The 2010 Mavrud „istoria bez kray” from Elenovo, by Edoardo Miroglio is a powerful, tannic display of masculinity, almost like the men from the fertility rituals. Bold, coarse and pungent tannins are mixed with harsh unripe berries flavours, blood sausage and cured meat. Long and heavy on the palate, it is a brutal panorama of sheer wine force, not tamed even by the 12 months in Bulgarian oak. Not even serving it well chilled will diminish the harshness of the tannins.
It is surely not a wine for the weak. But then, neither the ancient rituals were.
Vinul din Cluj 