Today, everything is incredibly fast-paced. We order with a click, gain access to massive amounts of information in seconds, and by the end of the day, we often feel like time has simply slipped through our fingers. More and more of us live without noticing what surrounds us on a daily basis – yet the quality of our environment deeply influences our mood, mental state, and even our values.
What do we see, what do we feel – and what remains with us?
The walls of our homes and workplaces are often decorated with images – but what kind of images? Do they truly speak to us? Do they carry something meaningful, something that inspires us, soothes us, or reflects who we are? Or are they simply the result of an impulsive purchase “because the wall was empty”?
A picture – when we have a real emotional connection to it – is much more than decoration. It can be a memory, a message, a piece of our identity. The same is true for other objects: if we are emotionally connected to them, they bring us safety, warmth, and presence. In contrast to the coldness of the machine-driven world, they represent something profoundly human.
More time – but for what?
Technological development has brought new opportunities: artificial intelligence and robotics are likely to take over many routine tasks from us. That frees up some of our time. But how do we use this time?
This is one of the most important questions of the future. Because if we’re not careful, we will fill that freed-up time with more digital noise, unnecessary content, more distractions. Yet we would have the opportunity for something else: reflection, presence, meaningful connection – with ourselves or with others.
In this slower, more attentive, value-driven lifestyle, the arts and creative professions play a key role.
Art, quality, human connection
As a gallery owner and professional framer, I experience every day that people long for uniqueness, quality, and personal connection. A well-chosen artwork or a carefully selected, high-quality frame offers not just aesthetic pleasure, but fulfills a deeper inner need: we want to connect.
To connect with the world, with others, and with ourselves. And part of that is being able to distinguish kitsch from value. To choose not only based on price, but on feeling, meaning, and lasting quality.
A new direction: a shift in mindset
I believe that now is the time to rediscover the human values that seem to be lost in the noise of technology: attention, presence, quality, stories, emotions. In this, the arts – whether painting, photography, framing, or any kind of creative work – offer an anchor that no algorithm can replace.
And this is not just the responsibility of artists or sellers. It’s the responsibility of all of us.
So if you look around your home or office today, it’s worth asking:
What surrounds you? What do these objects, these pictures represent? Do they reflect you? Do they add something to your days – or take something away?
The answer might lead you in a new direction. Toward a more human, more conscious, richer, and more beautiful life.
