Why Collect

Do you ever walk into your garage and wonder what you’re supposed to do with the few old objects gathering dust in there? If you’ve held on to those objects long enough, you might be just one step away from becoming an intentional collector. Studies suggest that we’re likely to collect something if we already have two of its kind. It’s just a matter of time until you discover something that makes a great companion to those things from the past, and begin collecting. But before you start a Google search for “where and how to buy art”, ask yourself ‘why should I collect?’

Everyone collects. The wealthy collect “Fine Art” visibly signed by artists. Young professionals with limited budgets mostly collect photographs, prints and early technology. Children collect found objects of curiosity, and in general, we all collect everyday objects for our homes. The nature of collecting is rather eclectic: it can be methodical or unorganized, by chance or intentional, and sometimes one doesn’t even know that what s/he is doing is, in fact, collecting.

We collect and gather things for various reasons and with different approaches: professional, intellectual, scientific or emotional. Most of us inherit objects and trinkets from grandparents, furniture from parents, clothing and textiles from mothers and pens from fathers. Some of these objects have been in our families for generations. And why do we keep these things that we receive? Because of the memories and stories they carry within them, because they form connections and link us to our past. Some of us treat these as valuables, some of us make them a part of our lives and use them, and then there are some who grow this few objects into full-fledged collections.