Artist Sues MoMA Over Alleged Sexual Assault During Marina Abramović Exhibition
In a shocking turn of events, an artist who participated in Marina Abramović’s retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 2010 has filed a lawsuit against the museum. John Bonafede, who performed in Abramović’s renowned piece “Imponderabilia,” claims that he was subjected to multiple instances of sexual assault during the exhibition. Bonafede alleges that MoMA failed to adequately protect him and other performers from these assaults and did not take appropriate action to prevent further incidents from occurring.
“Imponderabilia,” a performance that required Bonafede and a female performer to stand nude and motionless across from each other, took place at the threshold of a narrow passageway. Museum visitors were encouraged to pass through this passageway, traversing between the sixth-floor galleries. It was during this performance that Bonafede claims he endured seven instances of nonconsensual groping by patrons, all of whom he described as “older males.” He also witnessed his female counterpart being assaulted. It is important to note that the female performer is not involved in the current lawsuit.
Prior to the exhibition opening, Bonafede and several other performance artists attended a preparatory retreat at Abramović’s Upstate New York residence. During this retreat, Bonafede recalls that MoMA staff and Abramović herself communicated a “tough it out” culture, warning performers about potential transgressions by attendees. Abramović shared her own experiences of being assaulted during her endurance performances throughout her career.
Bonafede chose not to report the first incident of sexual misconduct he experienced at the beginning of the exhibition, fearing repercussions after hearing that another performer had their contract terminated for failing to remain motionless. However, he did report the following four incidents, and one assault was witnessed by a MoMA security guard who promptly reported it.
The assaults against the exhibition performers were widely reported by major news outlets during the retrospective. MoMA acknowledged the challenges of having nude performers in the galleries and developed a signaling system for performers to use if they felt unsafe or threatened. Despite this, Bonafede claims that while the museum ejected the visitors who assaulted him and revoked the membership of one of them, their identities were not disclosed to him.
Bonafede’s lawsuit was filed under the New York Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily removed the statute of limitations for sexual assault litigations from November 2022 to November 2023. This act allows survivors to seek justice for past incidents that were previously time-barred.
The allegations made by Bonafede raise significant concerns about the safety and protection of performers in art institutions. It is crucial for museums to create an environment where artists can express themselves freely without fear of harassment or assault. MoMA, Marina Abramović, and Bonafede’s attorney have been contacted for comment, and their responses will shed further light on this distressing situation.
Sexual assault and harassment are serious issues that require immediate attention and action. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, please reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit online.rainn.org for support.