104/365 – “Are you a pioneering or a follower?”

For the last few days, I’ve been assisting my friend in charge of sculpting dozens of skulls for an art installation I designed.

To build a skull, she has to study the architecture and geometry of every skull and then find a way to sculpt it into existence. With copious experience and a tendency to perfection, the process takes her about an hour.

On the other hand, it would take me only 20 or 30 minutes to replicate her carving with 80% fidelity and minimal experience.

It’s not easier because I’m exceptionally talented – but because replication is always easier than creation.

When admiring someone’s work, I think it’s important to consider whether they are a pioneer or a replicator.

Even if the output might be the same, the value they create isn’t.