Artist Quote by Gabby Bess
““If originality is a “sense of novelty and freshness” then, in the act of constructing ourselves, originality is not the goal. We construct a self-portrait, relying on existing objects – books, quotes from authors and artists, images, art – that we are more than happy to show off to others for them to use as masturbation material or for the material by which they align themselves. This is the new action painting – the curational archive. The referential self portrait. The portrait of any other artist could be readily used to explain yourself, just reblog it and caption it with “same.” The past consistently becomes the present, not through linear time, but through the constant reconstruction and relabeling of it.””
About This Quote
The quote critiques the fetishization of originality by showing how personal identity is built from existing cultural artifacts, turning curation into a self‑portrait.
In simple terms: Identity is assembled from borrowed ideas, not pure invention.
Key Takeaway
Embrace curation while seeking authentic expression.
Themes
Identity
Creativity
Originality
Art
Self‑portrait
Mood
reflective
critical
contemplative
Type
Artist:1
Books:1
Creativity:1
Goals:0
Identity:1
Originality:1
Self:1
Self portrait:1
Tumblr:1
Originality Goal:0
Originality Sense:0
Constructing Originality:0
Painting Curational:0
When to use this quote
- Social media branding
- Artistic practice
- Personal branding
- Academic writing
Key Concepts
Curation
Referentialism
Post‑modernism
Self‑construction
Cultural borrowing
Questions to Reflect On
- How does reliance on existing works shape your sense of self?
- Can curation be a path to authenticity?
A Different Perspective
Original montage can become shallow replication without critical reflection.
