Marina Abramovich: the artist’s first major retrospective to be shown in Italy, “The Cleaner”, will be held in Florence, at Palazzo Strozzi, until 20 January

Certain artists have shaped the history of contemporary art through their ability to break the mold and by shifting the boundaries of artistic expression.

Marina Abramovic is surely one such artist.

Born in Belgrade on 30 November 1946, the acclaimed performance artist has revolutionised the way we perceive art by challenging the limits of her own body in her performances.

The artist’s first major retrospective to be shown in Italy, “The Cleaner”, will be held in Florence, at Palazzo Strozzi, until 20 January.

Over four months, the exhibition will chart her 50-year artistic journey: from her early paintings as an art student at the Academy of Belgrade, to works from her 12-year artistic symbiosis with partner Ulay, in the 1970s and 80s,  through to extraordinary successes from the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st,, when she was awarded the Golden Lion for Best Artist at the 1997 Venice Biennale.

Also on display will be the groundbreaking piece “The Artist is Present” shown at Moma in New York in 2010, where Abramovich performed for a record 700 consecutive hours.

The event will be the latest major exhibition to be held in Florence in the last two years, following shows featuring works by Ai Weiwei, Bill Viola and Carsten Holler.

The retrospective brings together over 100 works by the Serbian artist, from the 1960s to the 2000s with videos, photographs, installations and re-enactments of her most legendary live performances by a group of artists specially selected for the show.