I believe so much in the power of performance I don't want to convince people. I want them to experience it and come away convinced on their own.

The quote "I believe so much in the power of performance I don't want to convince people. I want them to experience it and come away convinced on their own." by Marina Abramović reflects her belief in the transformative and immersive nature of performance art. As a renowned performance artist, Abramović emphasizes that the true power of her work lies not in persuading or explaining, but in allowing the audience to experience it firsthand. She believes that by engaging deeply with the performance, viewers will come to their own conclusions and feel the impact of the work more profoundly than if they were simply told its meaning.

Abramović’s approach highlights the difference between art that seeks to convince or explain and art that encourages personal reflection and emotional engagement. By focusing on experience, she invites the audience to feel, reflect, and discover the meaning of the performance through their own senses and emotions. This method empowers the audience, allowing them to form their own interpretations and understandings of the work, making it more personal and authentic.

The quote also speaks to the concept of artistic autonomy and the importance of allowing the artwork to stand on its own. Abramović believes that performance art, when done correctly, has the capacity to evoke powerful emotions and thoughts without needing an explicit narrative or explanation. She trusts in the intensity of the experience to speak for itself, conveying meaning through the action and the interaction between the performer and the audience.

Ultimately, Marina Abramović’s quote reflects her deep faith in the power of art to communicate on a visceral level. Rather than relying on words or persuasion, she values the ability of performance to engage the audience in a direct, transformative way. This approach encourages a more participatory and introspective experience of art, where the viewer's personal connection to the work is central to its impact.