Manifesto

This (now very altered) Manifesto was originally written and then read aloud by Marina Abramovic' in front of an audience at the Smithsonian.  It was conceived of as a performance piece which would be recited by odd numbers of people all dressed in Lab coats.  She has invited anyone, anywhere to perform this piece.  I like her generosity very much and so have copied her Manifesto here and, in order to make it better reflect my own ideas, I've made many changes throughout (not highlighted) and added a couple of paragraphs (highlighted).  As time goes on, I will continue to alter it as I get more in touch with what I mean to say.  I'm grateful to Marina for laying a foundation for this thought provoking process. 

For me, there's a discomfiting aspect to this Manifesto as Marina has written it.  It has to do with her use of the word "should".  While I understand this is the nature of a manifesto, I feel it's important to begin by stating... 

The Artist's relation to "should"
An Artist should examine what ought to be.
"Should" is a subjective experience and should be arrived at after deep personal reflection.

An Artist's Code of Conduct
An Artist should not lie to herself or others.
An Artist should not steal ideas from another Artist.
An Artist should not compromise himself with regards to
the Art market.
An Artist should not kill another human being.
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 her love life
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 take pleasure in the physical aspects of life.
An Artist should develop an erotic point of view on the world.
An Artist should be erotic.

An Artist's relation to suffering
An Artist suffers.
Suffering brings transformation.
Through suffering an Artist is urged to transcend the mundane.
Through suffering an Artist is urged to transcend the mundane.

An Artist's relation to depression
An Artist should not remain in depression.
Depression is a dis-ease and care must be taken to cure it.
An appeal to intuition must be made to find the path out of its paralyzing effects.
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 she looks inside herself the more universal she 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 total self control about her life.
The Artist should have total self control about her work.
The Artist should not have total self control about her life.
The Artist should have total self control about her work.

An Artist's relation to the intellect
The Artist should remember that the intellect treats everything mechanically.
The intellect relies on immobility to form a clear idea.
Instinct, on the other hand, proceeds organically within movement.

An Artist's relation to transparency
The Artist gives and receives at the same time.
Transparency means to be 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 be translated.
Sometimes it's difficult to find the key.
Sometimes it's difficult to find the key.
Sometimes it's 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 her work.
Silence is like an iceberg in the middle of a turbulent ocean.
Silence is like an iceberg in the middle of a turbulent ocean.

An Artist's relation to solitude
An Artist must make time for long periods of solitude.
Solitude is extremely important.
Away from home.
Away from studio.
Away from family.
Away from friends.
An Artist should stay for long periods of time at the waterfalls.
An Artist should stay for long periods of time listening to the sounds of nature.
An Artist should stay for long periods of time looking at the fast running rivers.
An Artist should stay for long periods of time at looking at the horizon
where the ocean and the sky meet.
An Artist should stay for long periods of time looking at the night sky.
An Artist has many ways of becoming inspired.
An Artist has many ways of showing up for work.

An Artist's relation to work
An Artist should avoid going to the studio every day.
It is counter-productive to treat his schedule as a bank employee does.
An Artist works best when an idea comes to him in a dream or
during the day as a vision that arrives as a surprise.
An Artist should not over produce.
An Artist should avoid her own art pollution.
An Artist should avoid her own art pollution.
An Artist should avoid her own art pollution.

An Artist's possessions
A Buddhist Monk advised that it's best to have nine possessions in life--
One robe for the summer
One robe for the winter
One pair of shoes
One begging bowl for food
One mosquito net
One prayer book
One umbrella
One mat to sleep on and,
One pair of glasses if needed
An Artist should decide for himself what are the minimum personal possession 
that she 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.

The list of Artist's friends
An Artist should have friends that take pleasure in spiritual travel.
An Artist should have friends that take pleasure in spiritual travel.  

The list of Artist's enemies
Enemies are very important.
The Dali Lama said, "It is easy to have compassion with friends but 
much more difficult to have compassion with enemies.
An Artist must learn to forgive.
An Artist must learn to forgive.
An Artist must 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 her work for the sign 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 she 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.