From the very early stage when I started doing performance art in the '70s, the general attitude - not just me, but also my colleagues - was that there should not be any documentation, that the performance itself is artwork and there should be no documentation.

The quote by Marina Abramovic reflects the early attitude in the world of performance art during the 1970s, where artists believed that the performance itself was the true artwork, and that there should be no documentation of it. Abramovic points out that she and her colleagues embraced the idea that the ephemeral and live nature of performance was what made it unique and valuable, emphasizing the importance of presence and direct experience over recorded evidence.

The meaning behind the quote highlights the tension between impermanence and preservation in performance art. By rejecting documentation, artists aimed to protect the integrity and immediacy of their work, ensuring that the art existed only in the moment it was performed. This approach challenged traditional art forms that relied heavily on physical objects or records and redefined the boundaries of what art could be.

Marina Abramovic, a pioneering performance artist, has been influential in shaping how performance art is understood and experienced. Her reflections offer insight into the philosophies that guided the movement in its early days, revealing a commitment to authenticity and the belief that the artist-audience interaction was central to the artwork’s meaning.

In essence, the quote emphasizes a key principle of early performance art: that the experience of the performance itself is paramount, and that attempts to capture it through documentation can diminish its essence. It invites us to appreciate the fleeting, living nature of this art form and the unique connection it creates between artist and audience.