Collecting vs. hoarding

Collecting vs. hoarding

Collecting vs. Hoarding... it's a fine line

I consider myself an artist, even if perhaps only 3 people and myself truly believes that. An art collector is highly regarded as someone with great taste, love for the Arts, rich/wealthy, sound investor...the list goes on, including pretentious (...it's a fine line). An artists greatest compliment is for their work to be simply... collected. It represents admiration for their work, as well as a form of income.

Art collecting and hoarding may seem similar, but they are merely fundamentally different practices. While collectors pursue art with purpose and passion, hoarders accumulate without restraint or intention. To dive in deeper, an art collector mostly acquire art with personal and purposeful curation based on forms, themes, styles, periods, cultural significance, responsible stewardship, appreciation for artistry, support for the artists and long-term vision. Their collections are often displayed and shared, contributing to the preservation and enjoyment of art for themselves and others.

On the other hand, hoarding is characterized by a compulsive accumulation of art pieces without a purpose or curation. Hoarders amass artworks by emotional attachment, fear of missing out, or a desire for control and have difficulty parting with their possessions, which leads to chaotic clutter and disarray. Art collectors, however, carefully select pieces based on their artistic merit, historical importance, or emotional connection.

From a personal point of view, there are collectors who also collect excessive amount of art, items, things, etc and displays them all over every square inch of their home, with no particular order or curation (my personal opinion, in this case) or stores them in warehouses, lend them to multiple institutions to be displayed to the public and continue to collect with no end in sight.

Often, a hoarder is considered to have some form of emotional distress condition, while a wealthy person with amass collection they can't even account for, is considered to be a sound minded person/investor.

In conclusion, art collecting and hoarding represent a fine line dichotomy between thoughtful passion and unchecked accumulation. Aspiring collectors must strive to find that delicate balance between passion and restraint, allowing them to build meaningful collections that reflect their appreciation for art while avoiding the pitfalls of hoarding. I believe this is also true when it comes to homeowners with aspiring ideas of improving their spaces. It is very important to find that balance between essentials, inspirations, budget, planning and execution to realize your vision in a timely and peaceful manner. (OFF) Design Build can help with that. Get in touch with us.