Try free for 30 days

  • The Museum of Modern Love

  • By: Heather Rose
  • Narrated by: Laurel Lefkow
  • Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (151 ratings)

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Museum of Modern Love cover art

The Museum of Modern Love

By: Heather Rose
Narrated by: Laurel Lefkow
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $34.99

Buy Now for $34.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

A mesmerising literary story about a lost man in search of connection - a meditation on love, art and commitment, set against the backdrop of one of the greatest art events in modern history, Marina Abramovic's The Artist Is Present

She watched as the final hours of The Artist Is Present passed by, sitter after sitter in a gaze with the woman across the table. Jane felt she had witnessed a thing of inexplicable beauty among humans who had been drawn to this art and had found the reflection of a great mystery. What are we? How should we live? 

If this was a dream, then he wanted to know when it would end. Maybe it would end if he went to see Lydia. But it was the one thing he was not allowed to do. 

Arky Swann is a film composer in New York separated from his wife, who has asked him to keep one devastating promise. One day he finds his way to The Atrium at MOMA and sees Marina Abramovic in The Artist is Present. The performance continues for 75 days and as it unfolds, so does Arky. As he watches and meets other people drawn to the exhibit, he slowly starts to understand what might be missing in his life and what he must do. 

This dazzlingly original novel asks beguiling questions about the nature of art, life and love and finds a way to answer them. 

©2017 Heather Rose (P)2018 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

What listeners say about The Museum of Modern Love

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    87
  • 4 Stars
    39
  • 3 Stars
    18
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    92
  • 4 Stars
    24
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    73
  • 4 Stars
    30
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I loved this book!

I enjoyed the many stories and interesting characters and I particularly loved the art references, the way art was explained and music described.
It makes me want to find out more about the real people mentioned.
Beautiful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A fascinating read

Artists and art lovers alike will love this book. In the end I wanted to know more about this fascinating woman.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Real Art for Surreal Life

This is a beautiful raw meditation on how we think about ourselves and those closest to us. Marina Abramovic, as a performance artist, provides an opportunity to be still and listen to ourselves. Her art offers a surreal experience that is rendered very real by the author. Heather describes the experiences of people who visit the museum over the months of the performance, and draws out the love and meaning in their lives. The story is simple yet has wonderful depth. I like the way this novel has some elements of the biography of Marina woven into the fiction. Loved this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful

Such a thoughtful book. Totally enjoyed the characters and their questions, and confusion, their complicated relationships, and thoughts regarding the meaning of life. Loved the authors ability to describe the connections we encounter in life and death. I really appreciated this lovely uplifting and interesting book. Highly recommend. Very satisfying.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enter a dream with Heather Rose

To listen to this book is to be transported to the inner and outer and beyond worlds of MOMA and Marina and all who were there. Thank you to all those responsible for this reading 💜

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Challenges you to question life, love & pain

I loved this book as much as I love MOMA and artists, like the main character, Marina Abramovic, who challenges our perception with every creation. All the characters had beautiful stories of life, love, friendship, emotions & pain. Beautifully pulled together it was a joy to listen to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

As an artist looking for inspiration- Thankyou!!

Loved it, such a beautiful description of the human spirit. Well written, with depth in characters. The the drive and struggle spoke to me as an artist. Enjoyed every word.

Thankyou so much for something so amazing and unexpected

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully read, exquisite prose, a sensual story

Loved it, a inquiry into our thoughts…and what is the journey of life ..💕fabulous

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Pleasant

A pleasant listen - you have to stay focused as it dances around, then dance back.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So clever, so imaginative and well narrated

I pursued a MA in sculpture after attending Abramovic's Sydney show every day. Something compelling about it, about her. This story threw me back into that same atmosphere, of longing, of possibility, of connection. I loved this book, its structure and thoughtfulness.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.