Marina Abramović: 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-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 

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

15. A list of an artist’s friends: 

– An artist should have friends that lift their spirits 

– An artist should have friends that lift their spirits 

– An artist should have friends that lift their spirits 

16. 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 

17. 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 

18. 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 leaving