Marina Abramović: I’ve never put crystals in my cleavage, but OK. I have put crystals near my head and asked, “You know what time it is?”A lot of artists today are struggling. Do you have any advice for us?
Yes, yes, yes. My audience is a young audience. I am so incredibly happy and grateful. You know who did me an enormous favor? Lady Gaga. She brought me a young audience. I still haven’t met her, but we did meet virtually. Lady Gaga came to see my show at MoMA in 2010, and because she tweeted about it, all these kids came to MoMA to see Lady Gaga. And even after Lady Gaga left, they stayed and saw my show. I have something like 80,000 fans on Facebook all under the age of 30. My favorite! I am so happy. But my advice to young artists is to be less selfish. When you arrive at a certain age, you have to give unconditionally. I think young artists should be much less selfish than they are. First of all, you have to know that making art is not about being famous and having money. The art is about a different matter. Fame and money is just a side effect. This you have to get clear in your head.
And artists in my generation need to be generous too. I’m creating an institute of performance art where I’m going to give teachings.Do you think giving interviews or lectures is a kind of performance?
Performance is a word that is overused. I hate to think of an interview as a type of performance, or a lecture as a type of performance. Some people say it is a performance, but it’s bullshit. It is not. When I do a performance, I call it a performance. This is an interview not a performance.
My generation hates the fashion world. In the 1970s, if you wore lipstick, then you weren’t a good artist. And I said, “I don’t care about this sanctimony anymore. I like what I like.” I like original fashion. To me, Comme des Garçons is just genius. So is Yōji Yamamoto. Lately, I like Riccardo Tisci. He just made this dress for me. I feel so comfortable. Look, it has a little trail. I feel like a nun on a mission.Where did you get the cross around your neck?
This is the Austrian Decoration of Honor for Science and Art, the highest Austrian award for life achievement. It’s incredible to wear. I wear it like jewelry, but it’s actually real medal. It was given to me in a four-hour ceremony with the president of Austria in 2008. Usually they give it to people who are 70, 80, 90 or dead. I’m wearing it because Austria is the best place to wear it.And you don’t consider yourself a feminist artist, right?
No, definitely not. I really hate ghettoizing art into specific ideologies. Art is only one way. There is good or bad art, and that’s it. Who is making it is not important.
Marina Abramović, Water Study, from the series, With Eyes Closed I See Happiness.© Marina Abramović Courtesy Marina Abramović Archives
Marina Abramović, Measuring Body Heat, from the series, With Eyes Closed I See Happiness, 2012 © Marina Abramović Courtesy Marina Abramović Archives
Marina Abramović, Measuring the Heat of Objects, from the series, With Eyes Closed I See Happiness, 2012© Marina Abramović Courtesy Marina Abramović Archives
Marina Abramović, Chair for Human Use with Chair for Spirit Use (1), 2012© ORE Cultura S.r.l., Laura Ferrari and Fabrizio Vatieri Courtesy Marina Abramović Archives
Marina Abramović, The Communicator, 2012 © Marina Abramović Courtesy Marina Abramović Archives
Me and my friends posing with Marina Abramović at Galerie Krinzinger, Vienna, Austria. photo by Christina Werner.
Marina Abramović at the Gartenbaukino for the premiere of the Artist is Present at the Vienna International Film Festival, Vienna, Austria. photo by Nadja Sayej
Marina Abramović at the Gartenbaukino for the premiere of the Artist is Present at the Vienna International Film Festival, Vienna, Austria. photo by Nadja Sayej
Marina Abramović at Galerie Krinzinger, Vienna Austria.photo by Nadja Sayej
Marina Abramović at Galerie Krinzinger, Vienna Austria.photo by Nadja Sayej
Marina Abramović at Galerie Krinzinger, Vienna Austria.photo by Nadja Sayej
Marina Abramović at Galerie Krinzinger, Vienna Austria.photo by Nadja Sayej
Marina Abramović at Galerie Krinzinger, Vienna Austria.photo by Nadja Sayej
Marina Abramović at Galerie Krinzinger, Vienna Austria.photo by Nadja Sayej
Marina Abramović at Galerie Krinzinger, Vienna Austria.photo by Nadja Sayej
Marina Abramović at Zu den 3 Hacken restaurant, Vienna Austria.photo by Nadja Sayej
