Reconsidering happiness in scarcity

Money is a function inversely proportional to happiness.

There is nothing philosophical or emotional about this sentence, it is just statistical. The richer people are, the less happy they are. The richer people are, the less they marvel and the more bored they become.

Indeed 95% of our actions are related to habits. It is therefore normal that if 95% of our actions are made only in wealth and opulence, boredom and monotony settle down. I want to precise that being rich is different that being abondant.

I was lucky to be born in Cannes, on the French Riviera, in a rich environment, so I have met rich people from a very young age and I must admit that 99% of them, myself included, complained most of the time.

In Colombia, the most smiling people I have met are the most humble, simplest and awaked one.

Simplicity is a real wonder. Humans have forgotten what it means to be a child and to marvel.

Amazement is indeed the first step towards respect, seeing these children from very poor backgrounds so smiling, so happy and curious was a real lesson in life. They are present and focused on the moment, they live all that life can offer and give to them.

I would like to thank those children who are an eternal proof of courage and simplicity in a highly vulnerable environment. Thereby, I decided to help one of them becoming a sort of mentor, helping him through advices and funding for studies.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to tell this story through pictures.

Pierre Aubertin

Latest Projects

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Stay in the loop


We will send you weekly news on contemporary photography. You can change your mind at any time. We will treat your data with respect. For more information please visit our privacy policy. By ticking here, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with them. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.