MARINA ABRAMOVIÇ
AN ARTIST’S LIFE MANIFIESTO
(ISSUE, CULTURE)

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 himself or in regards to the art market

– An artist should not kill other human beings

– An artist should not make himself into an idol

– An artist should not make himself into an idol

– An artist should not make himself into an idol

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

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

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 his spirit

– Through the suffering an artist transcends his spirit

– Through the suffering an artist transcends his spirit

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

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

An artist’s relation to inspiration:

– An artist should look deep inside himself for inspiration

– The deeper he looks inside himself, the more universal he becomes

– The artist is universe

– The artist is universe

– The artist is universe

An artist’s relation to self-control:

– The artist should not have self-control 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

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

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

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

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 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

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

– 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

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

A list of an artist’s friends:

– An artist should have friends that lift his spirits

– An artist should have friends that lift his spirits

– An artist should have friends that lift his spirits

A list of an artist’s enemies:

– Enemies are very important

– The Dalai Lama has said that it is easy to have compassion with friends but much more difficult to have

compassion with enemies

– An artist has to learn to forgive

– An artist has to learn to forgive

– An artist has to learn to forgive

Different death scenarios:

– An artist has to be aware of his own mortality

– For an artist, it is not only important how he lives his life but also how he dies

– An artist should look at the symbols of his work for the signs of different death scenarios

– An artist should die consciously without fear

– An artist should die consciously without fear

– An artist should die consciously without fear

Different funeral scenarios:

– An artist should give instructions before the funeral so that everything is done the way he wants it

– The funeral is the artist’s last art piece before leaving

– The funeral is the artist’s last art piece before leaving

– The funeral is the artist’s last art piece before leavin

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