Originality: The Lifeblood of Art and How to Achieve It

'Originality' is the source of vitality for artistic categories. Without originality, there can be no development, and it is impossible to survive in the contemporary context.

Originality consists of two parts: formal language and ideas. Formal language includes style, technique, materials, etc., while ideas include themes, thoughts, emotions, etc. Artists and their works are different, and the formal language and ideas of artistic works are also different.

Originality can be reflected in every step, including the artist's initial instincts and creative impulses, accumulated experience in the creative process, creative norms, value selection, and even audience reactions, which can be comprehensively considered.

Due to the huge impact of the image-based 'second nature' on the subconscious mind, creators often unconsciously repeat, borrow from, and replicate others. Whether it is formal language or ideas that are repeated, borrowed, or replicated, they are not purely original. As artist Xu Bing said, the artist's duty is to say what others haven't said, in a language that others haven't used.

In the diversified environment of art, it is impossible to completely avoid the influence of the image-based 'second nature'. In this case, 'sublimation of objects' is the best choice.