Redefining Happiness

Have you ever wondered what happiness is and how to achieve it? Amid the pandemic, the values we follow have completely changed. Today happiness might be as basic as returning to a lack of fear and suffering; restoring health. Happiness could be life itself. This issue revolves around such topics as the complexity of the concept and attempts to redefine it. In the magazine, you will find stories that matter and will stay with you for a long time.

Have you ever wondered what happiness is and how to achieve it? Amid the pandemic, the values we follow have completely changed. Today happiness might be as basic as returning to a lack of fear and suffering; restoring health. Happiness could be life itself. This issue revolves around such topics as the complexity of the concept and attempts to redefine it. In the magazine, you will find stories that matter and will stay with you for a long time.

As usual, we let the artist, designers and architects share with you their stories and experiences. You will have the opportunity to learn the creative credo of Peter Greenaway, have a closer look at the art of Shana Moulton, who offers an ironic take on the omnipresent reverence for the body and self-improvement in accordance with the contemporary mantra of capitalism. Together with photographer Michał Solarski, we look at his photography projects dedicated to the issue of leisure in post-Soviet countries. You will be able to participate in the daily routine of illustrator Ola Niepsuj and Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute (who is responsible for choosing the colour of the year), with whom we will talk about how colours affect our perception of ourselves and reality.

If you dream of working in a renowned art gallery, you should read the interview with Peppi Marchetti Franchi, a senior director with Gagosian and the founding director of Gagosian Rome. She will describe her career path and show step by step how she became the head of this legendary gallery.

The pressure of happiness, well-being and the relentless pursuit of aspirations dictated by ourselves or others also has an adverse impact on our health. Since mental health is still a taboo subject, we recommend you to read the essay ‘Burning Out in a World of Excess,’ which concentrates on artistic references to burnout, depression, confusion and inertia.

However, the first step into our discussion about happiness is the handmade cover, designed especially for us by Éva Szombat, the Hungarian photographer, who created a playful instruction on how to stay happy today in the form of a collage.