Performance Artist Marina Abramovic Laments India's Cultural Shift at Kochi Biennale
In a candid conversation with reporters in Kochi on Tuesday, world-renowned performance artist Marina Abramovic delivered a poignant critique of contemporary India, stating the nation no longer inspires her as profoundly as it once did. The Serbian artist, attending the Kochi–Muziris Biennale to deliver a talk on her art installations, observed that India is increasingly distancing itself from its own rich cultural and civilizational heritage in favor of adopting Western values and lifestyles.
Gandhi's Enduring Influence and Early Indian Connections
Abramovic revealed her deep admiration for Mahatma Gandhi, crediting him as a major influence on both her artistic thinking and personal practice. "He is the only person in the universe that I know who has brought revolution without spilling one drop of blood," she stated emphatically. Tracing her connection to India back to her childhood, the artist explained this bond was shaped by the historic friendship between India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and former Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito.
Reflecting on her artistic origins, Abramovic recalled that her early creative expression took the form of painting, often drawing inspiration from vivid images in her dreams. However, her formative years were marked by repeated sightings of fighter planes flying across clear skies, experiences that prompted deep philosophical reflection about life, existence, and human conflict.
Addressing Controversial Allegations and 'Spirit Cooking'
When questioned about renewed online claims linking her to the controversial 'Epstein Files,' Abramovic firmly dismissed the allegations as completely baseless. She clarified that references to her name represented nothing more than a revival of an old controversy with absolutely no factual foundation. "My mention of 'Spirit Cooking' related strictly to poetry and art and had no connection whatsoever to allegations of child trafficking," she asserted.
The artist provided detailed context about the dinner invitation that sparked controversy. She explained she initially invited Tony Podesta, a long-time collector of her work, to a 'Spirit Cooking' dinner, and extended an invitation to his brother John at Tony's specific request. "John Podesta never attended the dinner, and I never met him personally," Abramovic clarified. She emphasized that the invitation was sent nearly five years before Hillary Clinton launched her presidential campaign against Donald Trump, with the controversy resurfacing in October 2016 after WikiLeaks released hacked emails from John Podesta's account that included her email referring to the dinner.
The Long Journey to Performance Art Recognition
Reflecting on her pioneering career, Abramovic shared the challenges she faced establishing performance art as a legitimate artistic discipline. "At the time, I was already doing performance art—when it was not respected, not even considered art. I was fighting from the very beginning," she recounted. "It took me nearly 62 years to convince the world that performance is art. Today, performance is mainstream—in museums and here at this Biennale."
Nature as the Ultimate Artistic Teacher
Abramovic emphasized the fundamental role of nature in her artistic practice and personal philosophy. "You have to go to nature. Nature is everything—the high mountains, the rivers, exploding volcanoes… sitting under a tree with closed eyes," she described poetically. "There are the answers, asking you who you are, what your aim is, and what you have to do. Nature is really the biggest teacher that we need to know."
The artist's remarks at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale highlight both her continued engagement with philosophical questions and her disappointment with cultural shifts she observes in a country that once served as a profound source of inspiration for her work and worldview.
