It’s used because it sounds fashionable. It sounds like it’s for … the aesthetically conscious.

The word “curate” comes from the Latin “curatus,” the past participle of “curare,” which means “to take care of.”

There has been a rise in the authority of the curator — the rise of the super-curator, who travels the world and makes exhibitions with some kind of signature that reflects their ideology and their position,

The notion of something “curated” offers reassurance that what we buy is somehow meaningful; not just a dress, but a precious part of a curated selection of party wear.

The proliferation of “curating” speaks of a generation anxious for authority and authorship, and also for meaning.

“For me, curation is about collection-based work, and it’s nothing to do with exhibition making,”

“The ‘cur’ in curating can obviously be freely associated to curiosity. I believe curiosity is why I am a curator. It is a desire to want to know and to connect what we know.”

“I see a curator as a catalyst, generator and motivator — a sparring partner, accompanying the artist while they build a show, and a bridge builder, creating a bridge to the public,” Mr. Obrist said.