However, as the hours passed and the artist remained passive, the atmosphere shifted drastically. The "hot" intensity of the performance escalated from curiosity to cruelty. The absence of resistance emboldened the participants. Clothes were cut off her body with the scissors. Her skin was written upon. The violence escalated to physical torture: her hair was pulled, she was cut with thorns, and her neck was sliced. The culmination of this aggression occurred when a loaded gun was placed in her hand and her finger was positioned on the trigger; in that moment, the audience was holding the potential for murder.

"Rhythm 0" was a pivotal moment in Abramovic's career, marking a turning point in her exploration of the body and its relationship to art. The performance challenged traditional notions of art as a static object, instead emphasizing the process and the interaction between the artist and the audience.

: In the first few hours, the interactions were generally peaceful. Audience members used the objects of pleasure, such as the rose or the perfume, and moved the artist's limbs into different poses. Later Stages