Marina Abramovic. An artist's life Manifesto1. 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
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What works for some don't necessarily for other people. But I guess you know that.
Speaking of rawness, I was a bit surprised at finding the citation on its own in your journal, but now it makes more sense why you did so.
I see the reflection behing it, both on the author's part, but a bit of yours, too, and I like that
Appreciating things for what they are is totally something worth doing.