The Path to Authenticity: A Study on Material Symbols and the Artists Authentic Self-Generation from the Perspective of Heideggers Theory of Modernity

Abstract

In an era where artistic production is increasingly subsumed by industrial logic, homogenized paradigms, and commercial mechanisms, many contemporary creators find themselves in a state of self-loss. This paper investigates how artists can achieve authentic selfhood and resist modern alienation through their material practices. Drawing on Martin Heidegger's existential ontology and his critique of modernity—specifically the concepts of Dasein, authentic/non-authentic existence, the "they" (das Man), and the "ready-to-hand" (Zuhandenheit)—this study reinterprets the entire artistic process, from material selection and physical labor to the consolidation of personal symbols, as a comprehensive pathway toward authentic existence. Moving beyond formalist readings of material art, this research establishes a tripartite argument: (1) artists' deliberate choice of materials is an act of existential positioning that resists homogenizing discipline; (2) the embodied labor of creation awakens self-awareness and re-establishes a vital connection to life experiences; and (3) the long-term use of distinctive material symbols serves as a tangible testimony of authentic existence. Through in-depth case studies of Wang Guangle, Feng Fang, Chen Guanzhong, and Na Wei, the paper demonstrates how these creators, despite their different backgrounds and media, navigate the transition from non-authenticity to self-realization. This research concludes that material art practice is not merely a stylistic choice but a profound philosophical and therapeutic strategy for artists to cultivate inner awareness, anchor their identity, and find existential meaning within the alienating conditions of modernity. The findings offer both a novel theoretical framework for the study of material art and practical guidance for artists seeking to transcend creative conformity.