Marina Abramovic and her lover/collaborator Ulay performing “Death Self”. (This performance consisted of the two artists seated in front of each other, connected at the mouth. They took in each other’s breaths until all of their available oxygen had been used up. The performance lasted only 17 minutes, resulting in both artists collapsing unconscious to the floor, having filled their lungs with carbon dioxide. This personal piece explored the idea of an individual’s ability to absorb the life of another person, exchanging and destroying it)

Mom, listen. I haven’t been together with Topanga for 22 years, but we have been together for sixteen. ‘Kay, that’s a lot longer than most couples have been together. I mean, when we were born, you told me that we used to take walks in our strollers together in the park. When we were 2, we were best friends, I mean, I, I knew everything about this girl. I knew her favorite color. I knew her favorite food. Then we became 6, you know, and Eric made fun of me because it wasn’t cool to have a best friend that was a girl, or even know a girl, so for the next 7 years I threw dirt at her. I like to call those “the lost years.” Then when I was 13, Mom, she put me up against my locker and she kissed me. I mean, she gave me my first kiss. She taught me how to dance. She was always talking about these crazy things, and I never understood a word she said. All I understood was that she was the girl I sat up every night thinking about, and when I’m with her I feel happy to be alive. Like I can do anything… Even talk to you like this. So that’s, that’s what I feel is love, Mom. When I’m better because she’s here..

Then a while later, we got back together, and we told each other we would be forever. And since that day, we have had our share of problems but now we know that it’s hard, but better together. It is better together, so now we have a house and a couple pets. We’re even getting married nine years after it, and every time I see you; I still hear trumpets.