Artist's offensive description of Indigenous Australians

A renowned performance artist has described Australian Aboriginal people as "dinosaurs" and "terrible" to look at in a new memoir, according to an excerpt posted online by a US critic.

An extract from the book “Walk Through Walls” by Marina Abramovic, was posted to Instagram by New York-based art critic Rachel Wetzler, who has since removed after it went viral.

According to extract from the yet-to-be-released book, Abramovic writes Indigenous Australians are the oldest people on earth and were like living "dinosaurs".

"They are really strange and different," Abramovic wrote.

"When you first meet them, you have to put effort into it. For one thing, to western eyes they look terrible.

"Their faces are like no other faces on earth; they have big torsos (just one bad result of their encounter with Western civilisation is a high sugar diet that bloats their bodies) and sticklike legs."

Abramovic took to Facebook this morning to apologise from the comments, insisting they were from an "early, uncorrected proof".

"I have the greatest respect for Aborigine people, to whom I owe everything. The time I spent with members of the Pijantjatjara and Pintupi tribes in Australia was a transformative experience for me, and one that has deeply and indelibly informed my entire life and art,” she said.

"The description contained in an early, uncorrected proof of my forthcoming book is taken from my diaries and reflects my initial reaction to these people when I encountered them for the very first time way back in 1979.

“It does not represent the understanding and appreciation of Aborigines that I subsequently acquired through immersion in their world and carry in my heart today."

Marina Abramovic has been contacted by nine.com.au for comment.