When the world heard that Shia LaBeouf was dabbling in performance art, lots of eyes turned immediately to Marina Abramovic, the woman synonymous with the artform, to see how she would react. LaBeouf's performance involves him sitting at a table with a bag on his head while he apologizes to people who sit across from him. There are obvious connections to Abramovic's "The Artist Is Present" performance, but given LaBeouf's chronic plagiarism, no one is surprised.
Vulture caught up with Abramovic and, while she acknowledges the influence, she thinks that LaBeouf's #IAMSORRY performance is very different. "First of all, I can’t think that this is directly related to me... I’m very happy people are inspired by [my] work, but this is not the same work. I don’t see it as anything to do with me." When asked her personal opinion of the piece, Abramovic said that the actor was being "manipulative." She admitted that doesn't know his motivations, but she did hypothesize that performance art could be filling a void for LaBeouf and others like him, giving them the "simpliclity" and direct connection to the public that acting doesn't provide.
It seems no one is really taking him seriously. Jerry O'Connell even opened a parody performance next door entitled #IAMSORRYTOO. Maybe it's time for him to pack it up and disappear like Rick Moranis.
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[via Vulture]
