Their computers, phones, and watches were collected.
For the remainder of the workshop, there was no food, except with water and herbal tea. There was also no talking during the workshop, apart from Billy and me who would give exercises.
For the next five days, they started the day with me ringing the bell around 6:30AM. Going straight from the bed to the outside, doing morning exercises and plunging into cold water.
The photos illustrate some of the exercises they would complete throughout the day:
_Writing the Name (1hr)
_Walking backwards with a mirror (2hr)
_Looking at the primary colors (3hr)
_Blindfolded sitting in nature (2hr)
_Opening and closing the door (3hr)
_Walking in slow motion (5hr)
_Counting Rice and Lentils (6hr)
In between the exercises, they could rest, read. These are a part of Abramović Method, which I developed in the past fifty years of my career.
On my fifth day, we had the first meal, consisting of boil rice, which we ate with our bare hands.
That moment, when we started talking, was one of the most emotional moments of my life. There was a sense of togetherness. Of unity and of connectedness between all of us. The tears just filled my eyes. Looking at all their faces, brought harmony.
The rest of the two days, we spent documenting workshop, talking about the workshop, and discussing the next phase: the show at the Museum Folkwang, where they will perform long durational works 9 days, 6 hours per day.
Billy and I think the workshop Cleaning the House was a necessary link between the first part and last part of our teaching."
