A Reproducer’s Practice Manifesto

manifesto poster, 2022

Arnhem, IT

A Reproducer’s Practice Manifesto is a declaration of values and standpoints in relation to the controversial practice reproduction. Written as a reproduction itself of ‘An Artist’s Life Manifesto’ by Marina Abramovic, the Reproducer’s Manifesto has been published in a variety of forms, in posters and booklets, and has been exhibited at Dutch Design Week 2022.

Read the full manifesto below ︎︎︎

A Reproducer’s Conduct in their Practice

A reproducer should borrow from others

A reproducer should not fear being unoriginal

A reproducer should not compromise over terms and conditions

A reproducer should not make themselves into an idol

A Reproducer’s Relation to Creative Strategies

A reproducer’s creative strategy is uncreative

A reproducer’s creative strategy is unoriginal

A reproducer’s creative strategy is reproduction

A reproducer should trust the process of uncreative strategies

A reproducer should use uncreative strategies for creative purposes

A Reproducer’s Relation to their Love Life

A reproducer should avoid falling in love with copyrighted work

A Reproducer’s Relation to Appropriation

A reproducer shouldn’t cause suffering from appropriating

From suffering comes the worst lawsuits

Suffering brings catastrophes

Through wrongful appropriation a reproducer deceives their spirit
Through wrongful appropriation a reproducer deceives their spirit

Through wrongful appropriation a reproducer deceives their spirit

A Reproducer’s Relation to Creativity

A reproducer should not fear being uncreative

Creativity is a will-o’-wisp

A reproducer should create from the existing

A reproducer should move information

A reproducer should be moved in the process

Moving information is never uncreative

A Reproducer’s Relation to Depression

A reproducer should not be depressed

Depression is not productive for a reproducer

A Reproducer’s Relation to the Blank Page

A reproducer should not fear the blank page

For the blank page exists only for those who need originality

A reproducer should not aspire to being original

Originality is a will-o’-wisp

A reproducer should feel comfortable in starting from the existing

A reproducer should dwell with readymades

A reproducer should not fear of being uncreative

For creativity sparks from unexpected existing information

A Reproducer’s Relation to Inspiration

A reproducer should look deep outside themselves for inspiration

Information is material

Inspiration is everywhere

The deeper they look outside themselves, the more conceptual they become

A reproducer should directly incorporate inspiration in their work

For incorporating is homage

A Reproducer’s Relation to Quoting

A reproducer shouldn’t avoid mentioning their sources

A reproducer should quote their inspiration properly

For quote is a democratic tool that allows knowledge to flow

A reproducer is not a gatekeeper

A Reproducer’s Relation to Transparency

Transparency means to give

Transparency means to receive

Transparency means to give

Transparency means to receive

A reproducer shouldn’t be cryptic about what they appropriate

A reproducer should be clear about their conceptual paths

Conceptual is not cryptic

A Reproducer’s Relation to Theory

A reproducer chooses their theories

Theories translate into concepts

Concepts are a reproducer’s language

The language must then be translated

Sometimes it is difficult to find the key

Sometimes a glossary is the key

A Reproducer’s Relation to Research

A reproducer should avoid researching material everyday

A reproducer should not treat his schedule as abank employee does

A reproducer should explore life and information and work only when an idea comes to them

A reproducer should repeat themselves and others

A Reproducer’s Relation to Fashion Labels

A reproducer shouldn’t wear fashion brands’ logos

For wearing logos is meaningless reproduction

For wearing logos is advertisement

A reproducer shouldn’t be interested in owning possessions that have authentic labels

Authenticity is a will-o’-wisp

A reproducer should only wear what they proudly appropriate

A reproducer should be conscious of their clothes in context

Only then they can appropriate their clothes thoroughly

A Reproducer’s Relation to Copying

A reproducer should imitate

A reproducer should reproduce

A reproducer should copy

A reproducer shouldn’t copy other’s work without crediting

A reproducer shouldn’t erase the steps that brought them to their work

For copying is not to shame

A reproducer should be intentional in their unoriginal strategies

For intentionality brings clarity

Unintentional unoriginality is cheap work

A reproducer should be intentional in their unoriginal strategies

A Reproducer’s Relation to Sources

A reproducer should form a bond with their sources

Sources are vital for a reproducer

A reproducer should avoid making their sources into idols

A reproducer should be critical of their sources

A reproducer should be critical of their work

To critique is to design improvement

Critique is vital for reproduction

A Reproducer’s Relation to Copyright

A reproducer should avoid breaking copyright laws

A reproducer shouldn’t waste time and money on attorneys

A reproducer should not copyright their work

A reproducer should promote open access to their work

A reproducer should allow reproduction of their work

Ownership is a will-o’-wisp

Authorship is a will-o’-wisp

Copyright is a will-o’-wisp

This manifesto is not owned by Maria Spadoni or by Marina Abramovič.
It is, therefore, open for interpretation, performance, appropriation, and criticism.