Marina Abramović and Ulay started an intense love story in the 70s, performing art out of the van they lived in. When they felt the relationship had run its course, they decided to walk the Great Wall of China, each from one end, meeting for one last big hug in the middle and never seeing each other again. At her 2010 MoMa retrospective Marina performed "The Artist Is Present" as part of the show, a minute of silence with each stranger who sat in front of her. Ulay arrived without her knowing it and this is what happened.

sqq. *

We never stop loving silently those we once loved out loud.

— Marina Abramović

I think communication starts when words are not present at all. I think we put so much emphasis on language, actually silence is so much more important.

— Marina Abramović

Most people are more comfortable with what is familiar. I've spent my life doing the opposite.

— Marina Abramović

Marina Abramović | The Artist Is Present | 2010

Letzten Endes […] geht es immer um die Frage, wie man zu einer inneren Ruhe findet. Es gibt so viele verschiedene Wege, dorthin zu gelangen, und es ist ein langer Weg. Man erlebt diese Klarheit nur für einzelne Momente, doch dann entgleitet sie dir wieder. All die Arbeit muß gemacht werden, um diesen Zustand zu stabilisieren, und um das zu erreichen, braucht es länger als ein Leben.

— Marina Abramović