Marina Abramović Interview: Advice to the Young | Louisiana Channel

Follow your intuition. Have courage. Do what you imagine. And always be completely present in the moment. Marina Abramović on what it really means to be an artist: "A great artist has to be ready to fail."

Meet the charismatic performance artist Marina Abramović in this interview on what it means to be an artist, waking up each morning with an urge to be creative.

Abramović says that the most courageous act in the history of mankind was Christopher Columbus discovering America, which was in fact a mistake, since they went into the unknown believing they would reach India. She also explains how the best advice she received as a student was to never allow things to become routine.

A good artist will have one really good idea in their life, while a brilliant artist may have two, so one has to be careful with the ideas, Abramović says. She explains that she always does the work she is most afraid of, which is most different to what she has done before. Finally Abramović adds that the performing artist has to be completely present in the moment, and cannot be thinking of the next step. You have to follow intuition, have courage and do what you imagine.

Marina Abramović (1946) became world famous after her retrospective 'The Artist is Present' at MoMA in 2010, which was followed by a documentary film premiering in 2013. Abramović began her career in the early 1970s and has recently begun to describe herself as the 'grandmother of performance art'. Abramović's work explores the relationship between performer and audience, the limits of the body and the possibilities of the mind. To Ambramovic the purpose of art is the transformation of the artist and of the viewer.

Marina Abramovic was interviewed by Christian Lund in New York, September 2013.

Photography by René Johansen.

Editing by Kamilla Bruus.

Produced by Christian Lund, 2013.

Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.

Supported by Nordea-fonden.

[geekyourlikeslulu]

"wake up in the morning and you have some ideas have obsession and urge to create" I watched this vid 4-5 years ago when I was in art school, most professors told me to work hard. They would agree to what she said definitely. They said I should work hard to gather new inspiration, work hard to always think of new ideas, work hard to make new things often, and forever. I started to feel this is an endless tunnel I can't get freed from if I wanna be an artist. I lost passion over years and stopped making anything after graduation. I remember I was exactly as she describe, wake up in the morning and random ideas pops up in my head which can't stand not making it into a piece. Do I miss myself back then? I never anticipated I would change like this. Now it's been 2 years since my graduation, and my attention is suddenly focusing on contemporary art again. My guess is I want artistic expressions when I'm unhappy, as art feels like my place of birth, hometown, root (or whatever) and instinctively sniff towards it when I fear losing myself. All contemporary arts feel nostalgic and consoles me. They have energy to resonate with. Life goal is to be myself, be the most free and peaceful version of myself. Am I gonna make some art in the future, as a way to be more of myself? probably yes. In regular basis? probably no. Am I an artist? I don't know. Maybe a question that I don't have to answer at all. I just want to something that I don't have to define... uhh what am I writing? lost point

[secondtimer]

good advise is if you see Marina Abramović, run!

[Anonymous-vbfw]

Marina Abramović's style of art is very diffcult to comprehend for a normal human being. I myself cannot understand how her mind works, therefore I cannot judge her. Many call her crazy, stupid, etc.. Yet I believe they simple cannot understand the deep incomprehensible state of mind that Marina is in.

[waekeke]

I think at the end she was describing art as the water and how we as artists need to slow down and observe everything when creating an art piece.

[shafira_yulia]

i just discovered about Marina this week, i knew her from somone's tweet about her most famous art, Rythm 0, and after I watch her arts performances, read many comments, so many pros and cons, said she is an evil, witch, etc, which, of course, if that's true, I strongly reject it, but I haven't found any clear evidence of her crime in her performances, did she hurt people? I've watched many of her interviews, she's so selfless, funny, and brilliant, the way she thinks about this world, I'm glad I got to know her while she's still here with us

[oliviabrelsford-massey]

I would like to post a comment slightly different in tone to everybody elses.
I very much respect Marina as a true artist, someone who explores the complexities of human consciousness and urges others to do so, which is definitely a positive thing. This is a forward thinking and intelligent woman whether you like it or not.
I would also like to add that to say she worships the 'devil' or whatever is inaccurate, she simply understands how to manipulate energy.
Anyway it's not like she's hurting anyone, when previous religiously led parties of people or individuals have done fair amount of that throughout history, those who follow spirituality, buddhism, even satanism have remained pretty peaceful.
Also I suggest fully understanding what satanism is before you try to use it as an insult; its a very misunderstood practise.

[Brenda-ufpk]

I love the example of the water and being present that is so true. Her advice is great. If anything doesn’t resonate than just ignore it. Working on oneself is a form of art⭐️💓 she is an artist :)

[bubbles]

Don't trust her. She is not what she seems and gets away with it by calling it art. Take the time to seek the truth.

[jasonbrody]

She spent her entire life seek meaning in art. Devoted herself to the highest degree to it.. Yet people who have an attention span of 5mins a day for art, come here and comment that she is stupid and they are the king of understanding. That's sad really.

[miloreidel]

all these comments are the prime example of "if i don't understand something, i am terrified by it."

[francazedda]

Marina Abramovic non ti lascia indifferente: o la ami o la odi. È divisiva, controversa, geniale, folle, coraggiosa e originale. Io la ammiro.

[saraplazinic]

To the people who say artist are mentally ill - yes, they are and that's exactly what makes them special. That's what distinct them from so called 'normal', boring people. Yes, normals, you're boring, closed-minded and you'll never see beyond the realms of this material world. Art is about idea, about seeing beyond the maya of the world...that you'll never do probably.

[sarared]

Why don’t you just listen to what she is saying instead of judging? as an artist I appreciate her advice. Very good!

[KawakebAstra]

THX Louisiana Ch . . Never understood ”immaterial” Art before Marina Abramovic .. I never paid it attention. . Now I realize... just standing & staying in our own true essence is ART .. 🙏💕🌸🍃✌️

[HardboiledBread]

it takes challenging norms and whats already been established as "art" by the mass public in order to be successful. She's absolutely right. She's true to her work, and it gets tons of hate and tons of love, and those extremes on both ends are what make her special as a conceptual and performing contemporary artist. Her work has negative surface value to the mass non-critical thinking public, but dig deeper and theres an extraordinary commentary on society and gender roles. Fantastic woman that made some well-needed advancements in our understanding of art.

[iamsuccessful]

art is expression but an artist is a calling and a complex every artist should always be ready to expect failure all the time...but prepared if it artists for me do art for art's very sake...and not for money. She is indeed brilliant and one of a kind. :D

[nashesolnishko]

Искусство Марины- искусство души, чувств...Непринятие вызвает нематериальность её творчества. Наедине с Художником- потрясающий проект. Низкий поклон за него Марине Абрамович. Это гениальная женщина, опередившая своих современников

[lisengel]

So true. You have to risk, be ready to fail, you must be courageous. Change from your routine. Be carefull with your ideas, not to develop a certain style. You have to go to different areas. You have to work from you bodymindheart in one piece. Feel the energy, feel the moment. Do everything one thing at a time and do whatever you do unconditionally aware
And by the way I like the idea with the rubbish can....

[JuleSt]

what she said about reproducing after getting accepted by the public is so relevant with today's music and film industry

[yanimustapha]

There is no good or bad in Art. Art is in the eye of the beholder. This means, something might be artistic to someone and not artistic to someone else. You should however respect the opinions of everyone.