Quotes from Marina Abramovic

I had so much fear of blood, and the first thing I did was to cut myself to see what happens. That's the only way to rebuild yourself.

In my work I have complete control, but about my life, I don't want to.

It was a big base of my performance art ... the idea of here and now ... not something that's happening in the past or the future. It's always happening. It's always now.... Only what matters is the present.

I am only interested in the ideas that become obsessive and make me feel uneasy. The ideas that I'm afraid of.

Most artists create foundations where they put their own work. Here I'm not putting my own work. I'm just creating the chambers.

Immaterial art is the strongest because there's no obstacle; there's just energy, and I believe in energy.

Artists should never think of themselves as an idol. Fame is a side effect of one's work.

We, performers, work on willpower. This willpower works in a short term, not durational.

I believe the artist has an obligation to society.

I think 21st century should be art without objects.

All the aggressive actions I do to myself I would never dream of doing in my own life - I am not this kind of person. I cry if I cut myself peeling potatoes. I am taking the plane, there is turbulence, I am shaking. In performance, I become, somehow, like not a mortal.

I am obsessive always, even as a child. On one side is this strict orthodox religion, on the other is communism, and I am this little girl pulled between the two. It makes me who I am. It turns me into the kind of person that Freud would have a field day with, for sure.