Museums are enjoying a renaissance in attendance since the turn of the millennium. This is despite the convenience offered by the Internet. Similarly, art fairs and art galleries are drawing crowds, not all of whom are well-heeled art collectors.

What explains this trend? Will it sustain? My take is that people have begun to realize that screen knowledge is no substitute for the visceral enjoyment of seeing artworks in the flesh. There is a deep-seated need for us to connect closely with the creative works of fellow humans. Art galleries, museums and art fairs tap into this longing, which is why well-curated shows will continue to draw crowds. You might have heard about a show online, but you queued to see it anyway because your interest is piqued by the “real stuff,” not mere pixels.

Going to art works is a rare opportunity for us to pause from our breakneck pace of life, and switch to a more meditative mode for a while. When you are in the presence of art, you want to listen to what the artists are trying to say in paint, sculpture or other media. Sometimes, you want to be shocked; at other times, you just want to be amused. To the extent that you are intrigued, shocked or amused, the artworks have succeeded in their goals of capturing your attention, and telling you something that words cannot. Meanwhile, your phone stays in your pocket unless you want to snap some shots of certain pieces. Meanwhile, you look around and there is this feeling of being in communion not only with what is on display, but also with other visitors doing the same thing.

Ultimately, such visits are about place and experience. It is about giving yourself time and space to slow down in the presence of art and art enthusiasts, to be in the realm of the senses, to reach out and touching the world we share. 

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A short video by Ella Fontanals-Cisneros, a Cuban-born philanthropist and art collector with an abiding passion and discerning eye for contemporary art and design.