When I think of Marina Abramovic offerring her body for members of the public to mutilate with a blade, a gun, and I think of the symbolic significance of her acts, I wonder if this act of immolation, which has huge cultural significance, might be considered an act of performance art in its broadest sense?
Thích Quảng Đức (Vietnamese: [tʰǐc kʷâːŋ ɗɨ̌k]; 1897—11 June 1963, born Lâm Văn Túc), was a Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist monk who burned himself to death at a busy Saigon road intersection on 11 June 1963.[1] Quang Duc was protesting the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government led by Ngô Đình Diệm. Photographs of his self-immolation were circulated widely across the world and brought attention to the policies of the Diệm government. John F. Kennedy said in reference to a photograph of Đức on fire, “No news picture in history has generated so much emotion around the world as that one.”[2] Malcolm Browne won a Pulitzer Prize for his photograph of the monk’s death.[3][4]
Quảng Đức’s act increased international pressure on Diệm and led him to announce reforms with the intention of mollifying the Buddhists. However, the promised reforms were not implemented, leading to a deterioration in the dispute. With protests continuing, the ARVN Special Forces loyal to Diệm’s brother, Ngô Đình Nhu, launched nationwide raids on Buddhist pagodas, seizing Quảng Đức’s heart and causing deaths and widespread damage. Several Buddhist monks followed Quảng Đức’s example, also immolating themselves. Eventually, a U.S.-backed Army coup toppled Diệm, who was assassinated on 2 November 1963.
Thích is a Buddhist honorary title and Quảng Đức is descriptive of meritorious attributes: see dharma name.
Raphael by the Sea 