Ori-GIN-al

It has to be said I like gin; hardly an original preference and one that I share with many millions of fellow human beings fond of a sup and a cry (!). Originality is such a difficult beast to pin down. Like all unattainable goals it is flaunted by those who wish to discourage you and professed as the holy grail for those who haven't a clue how the real world works. Cynicism you say, gin I say. The only syllable worth worrying about is that one - if we did this the world would be a much happier place, well at least the artistic world.

Originality comes at a high price. Nothing is ever truly original in the 21st century, so what can we do as artists to help us to stand out amongst the crowd of charlatans. We stick to our guns that what we do. We 'plough on' regardless. Art worth making is the art that comes from the individual not the establishment. This art has relevance to the everyday man - this is key if art is to survive the next 100 years. We are in danger of alienating the very group of people that allow us to be artists. It is genuinely depressing how many times I have gone to a contemporary music or dance gig and seen the same faces. Art can't survive the same circle of people anymore. There is over saturation of peoples lives -  too much choice. But with the best art, like the best gin - it is all in the ingredients.