Generation Wealth is a 25-year multimedia project by Lauren Greenfield. The project was released as a photobook, an art exhibition, and a documentary. Its purpose is to comment on society’s obsession to be wealthy, young, and beautiful. 

Former model Ilona Stolie and her 4-year-old daughter Michelle in their luxury mansion.

        In the image, Stolie is wearing a sweater that says I’m Luxury. The sweater was recreated for Stolie by stylist Andrey Artyomov in a blue color that was made just for her. Ilona Stolie is an icon in Russian style and fashion, which equates to wealth. This shows one part of society that desires wealth and now those beliefs and traditions are passed down onto the younger generation where the desire for wealth and luxuries will only continue to grow.

A 49-year-old patient recovering from plastic surgery eating lunch in a private room at a luxury cosmetic surgery aftercare facility.

Lauren Greenfield documented the moment where a 49-year-old woman recovering from a full face laser resurfacing and an upper eye lift at an expensive facility that offers certain luxury treatments. room rates can go up to $1,195 dollars a night. The image not only shows the desire to spend money but the desire to be young and beautiful as well.

In episode three of john burgers “The Ways of Seeing,” Burger talks about valuable objects in which we buy. The most valuable object we can buy, Berger says, is an oil painting. In the oil paintings, the objects depicted in the paintings often look real. We as people have become obsessed with things and wealth. Luxury is present in pop culture and the way we think. Just like in the above images, certain luxuries are seen, such as the luxury of an expensive home or the luxury of plastic surgery. Unlike the oil paintings Berger discusses, wealth isn’t just about things or money but can be about beauty, youth, or just looking rich. Wealth is about the impact it makes on society and the mind and the way we adapt to it in everyday life. A lot of people are concerned about luxury brand names and whatever image they portray and that is a result of the importance and the light we shine on these things.

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