More than 50 writers and artists gathered for a marathon reading of the 1961 sci-fi novel "Solaris," but the eight-hour event kicked off with Lady Gaga, black bangs falling over her eyes, intoning the opening chapter.
The pop star appeared to surprise even some organizers of the event, sponsored by the Marina Abramović Institute: She sent her video only about 15 minutes before the start.
The event, which was put on in coordination with the literary magazine Atlas Review, was to raise awareness and solicit donations for the Marina Abramović Institute, in particular a project by the performance artist to complete a Rem Koolhaas-designed renovation of a building in Hudson, N.Y., that would serve as the organization's home. She is now soliciting $600,000 through Kickstarter.
"Solaris," written by Stanislaw Lem, was a fit for the Institute's interest in promoting "long durational work." "It's about narrowing your sensory process to put yourself more in the moment and experience stimuli more clearly," said Siena Oristaglio, head of communications for the Institute.
To help the audience achieve this goal, Ms. Abramović herself appeared via Skype and commanded them to blindfold themselves, using ones organizers were handing out, to listen more closely to the reading.
The readers all wore white lab coats, which Ms. Oristaglio called "an equalizer among people because they take away visual distractions." With a smile, she added, "Plus, 'Solaris' is about scientists going to a crazy planet, so it really seemed like the right time for lab coats."
Chill out!
