Marina Abramovic. An artist’s life Manifesto

1. An artist’s conduct in his life:  – An artist should not lie to himself or others  – An artist should not steal ideas from other artists  – An artist should not compromise for themselves or in regards to the art market  – An artist should not kill other human beings  – An artist should not make themselves into an idol  – An artist should not make themselves into an idol  – An artist should not make themselves into an idol 

2. An artist’s relation to his love life:  – An artist should avoid falling in love with another artist  – An artist should avoid falling in love with another artist  – An artist should avoid falling in love with another artist  3. An artist’s relation to the erotic:  – An artist should develop an erotic point of view on the world  – An artist should be erotic  – An artist should be erotic  – An artist should be erotic  4. An artist’s relation to suffering:  – An artist should suffer  – From the suffering comes the best work  – Suffering brings transformation  – Through the suffering an artist transcends their spirit  – Through the suffering an artist transcends their spirit  – Through the suffering an artist transcends their spirit  5. An artist’s relation to depression: – An artist should not be depressed  – Depression is a disease and should be cured  – Depression is not productive for an artist – Depression is not productive for an artist  – Depression is not productive for an artist  6. An artist’s relation to suicide:  – Suicide is a crime against life  – An artist should not commit suicide  – An artist should not commit suicide  – An artist should not commit suicide  7. An artist’s relation to inspiration:  – An artist should look deep inside themselves for inspiration  – The deeper they look inside themselves, the more universal they become  – The artist is universe  – The artist is universe  – The artist is universe  8. An artist’s relation to self-control:  – The artist should not have self-c ontrol about his life  – The artist should have total self-control about his work  – The artist should not have self-control about his life  – The artist should have total self-control about his work  9. An artist’s relation with transparency:  – The artist should give and receive at the same time  – Transparency means receptive  – Transparency means to give  – Transparency means to receive  – Transparency means receptive  – Transparency means to give  – Transparency means to receive  – Transparency means receptive  – Transparency means to give  – Transparency means to receive 

10. An artist’s relation to symbols:  – An artist creates his own symbols  – Symbols are an artist’s language  – The language must then be translated  – Sometimes it is difficult to find the key  – Sometimes it is difficult to find the key  – Sometimes it is difficult to find the key 11. An artist’s relation to silence:  – An artist has to understand silence  – An artist has to create a space for silence to enter his work  – Silence is like an island in the middle of a turbulent ocean  – Silence is like an island in the middle of a turbulent ocean  – Silence is like an island in the middle of a turbulent ocean  12. An artist’s relation to solitude:  – An artist must make time for the long periods of solitude  – Solitude is extremely important  – Away from home  – Away from the studio  – Away from family – Away from friends  – An artist should stay for long periods of time at waterfalls  – An artist should stay for long periods of time at exploding volcanoes  – An artist should stay for long periods of time looking at the fast running rivers  – An artist should stay for long periods of time looking at the horizon where the ocean and sky meet  – An artist should stay for long periods of time looking at the stars in the night sky  13. An artist’s conduct in relation to work:  – An artist should avoid going to the studio every day – An artist should not treat his work schedule as a bank employee does  – An artist should explore life and work only when an idea comes to him in a dream or during the day as a vision that arises as a surprise  – An artist should not repeat himself  – An artist should not overproduce  – An artist should avoid his own art pollution  – An artist should avoid his own art pollution  – An artist should avoid his own art pollution  14. An artist’s possessions:  – Buddhist monks advise that it is best to have nine possessions in their life:  1 robe for the summer  1 robe for the winter  1 pair of shoes  1 begging bowl for food  1 mosquito net  1 prayer book  1 umbrella  1 mat to sleep on  1 pair of glasses if needed  – An artist should decide for himself the minimum personal possessions they should have  – An artist should have more and more of less and less  – An artist should have more and more of less and less  – An artist should have more and more of less and less