I read Marina Abromavic’s autobiography. I have always felt mixed about the words she states and her art.

I find her performances, from that which I have read about and seen in photos and video to be visually exciting.

Though when I read interviews in which she spoke about these performances there was always something that felt a little strange. I felt despite the performances being very brave and strong, she then gave an impression of being victmised, once where she invited a crowd of people to do what they wished to her in a room for hours, laying  out a selection of items, a loaded gun, a knife, razors, condoms etc

She said they could do what ever they wanted to her and she would take complete responsibility.

I think the the worst of the things that happened after a few hours was she was stripped of her clothes, a gun held to her and she had a small cut on her neck.

I’m sure she must have been terrified of what could have happened. But I’m sure she would have been terribly disappointed if nothing happened.

Ino a video interview she stated  that she had layed out condoms so she could have been ‘raped’ if they wanted to. I found that a strange thing to say.  If she was giving permission why would she not say’ they can have sex with me if they want to’?

Recently I read in her book where she added ‘I’m sure that if the wifes had not been there the men would have raped me’

So she specificly chose her audience to protect her self and I think it was a good idea.

She then said the audience looked ashamed when it ended, I felt she made her self look like the hero and victim of the piece and the participants to be perpetrators and abusers.

The performance  was very powerful. I think it would have been more powerful if she had not become the martyr fugure.

I read an interview after she made a pop video with JZ. She complained that he had said he would contribute to her foundation and she had not received any money.

Once again she seemed to be talking as a victim. It seems strange that she did not draw up some kind of legal contract regarding the donation and very naive of she hadn’t. Sometimes it’s not clear.

I was reading another article yesterday in which she complained that MoMA only paid her 100,000 for her show ‘the artist is present” for 3 months work in the gallery.

I suppose this is where I feel frustrated with her art. I want her to have the guts to ask for what she beleives she is worth.

But why should I have such expectations of Abramovic?

She is simply a normal human being like the rest of us.

I think my ideas about others always are really about me.