Artists, musicians, and philosophers have long explored the value of stillness, emptiness, and silence. In his White Paintings (1951), artist Robert Rauschenberg painted monochrome canvases that allowed in life in the form of viewers’ shadows. Composer John Cage famously provoked the music world with his composition 4’33” (1952), in which a pianist sits still at their instrument for the allotted time, so that ambient noise helped define the music itself. Artist Yves Klein notoriously showed an empty white gallery in Paris, calling it simply Le Vide (1958).

Now, artist Marina Abramović is calling for a spell of silence at an event that is known for the opposite: the Glastonbury Festival, which started out five decades ago as a simple music festival on a farm in England’s Somerset region, and has since grown to mammoth proportions as an event for theater, comedy, dance, and various other art forms. 

Crowds at the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival, 2024. Photo: Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images.

At the festival’s iconic main forum, the Pyramid stage, Abramović will call for silence at 5:55 p.m. local time today, as part of a performance titled Seven Minutes of Collective Silence. The silence is in reply to the theme of this year’s iteration of the festival: peace. The performance is curated by Josef O’Connor through Glastonbury’s ongoing collaboration with Circa, a contemporary art platform.

“Silence is a powerful tool that allows us to connect with ourselves and each other in ways words cannot,” said Abramović. “At a festival like Glastonbury, where sound and energy are in constant flux, these Seven Minutes of Collective Silence offer a unique opportunity for unity and introspection. It’s about being present together, experiencing the power of silence as one.” 

For the occasion, Abramović will don a dress created by her friend, renowned fashion designer Riccardo Tisci, which, according to press materials, features “a surprise detail” that will come to light during the performance. 

It’s truly a gigantic stage for the performer, who has long sought to break out from the role of visual artist into something much larger. Glastonbury Festival provides a venue for that on an unprecedented scale: legend has it that, including gatecrashers, a record 300,000 people attended the 1994 festival, which was headlined by the Levellers. 

“We are honored to have Marina Abramović bring such a meaningful and profound experience to Glastonbury,” said Emily Eavis, the festival’s co-organizer. “Her work has always pushed boundaries and inspired deep reflection, and we believe this moment of collective silence will be a memorable and impactful addition to the festival.” 

Abramović will be followed by a set by English musician PJ Harvey.