Award for Marina Abramović
14.7.2026Marina Abramović has been elected as a new member of the Orden Pour le Mérite for Science and the Arts. The internationally renowned performance artist is part of this year's Ruhrtriennale with her piece Balkan Erotic Epic.
On 31 May 2026, Marina Abramović was elected to the Orden Pour le Mérite for Science and the Arts. Membership of this order is one of the highest honours that artists and scientists can receive in Germany.
Wolfram Weimer, Minister of State for Culture and Media, paid tribute to Abramović and the other newly elected members as outstanding figures who have set global standards through their work.
Founded in 1842, the Order brings together leading figures from the worlds of art and science. Its current members include, amongst others, theatre director Andrea Breth, filmmaker Michael Haneke, choreographer John Neumeier and director Wim Wenders. The Order’s patron is the Federal President.
Marina Abramović has been having a decisive influence on performance art for decades. Her works transcend boundaries, challenge the audience and transform the human body into a site of memory, vulnerability and resistance.
About Balkan Erotic Epic
At this year's Ruhrtriennale, Abramović's new performance Balkan Erotic Epic will be presented at Kraftzentrale in the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord. In this performance, lasting around four hours, dance, music, song and rituals come together to form a multi-layered journey through the ancestral traditions of the Balkans. The work explores the forces of the body, desire and spirituality, creating a powerful overall experience.
Balkan Erotic Epic
3 to 11 September 2026
Kraftzentrale, Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord
> Find out more on Balkan Erotic Epic
