Nostalgia is a social and political emotion through which people communicate a desire for the past, dissatisfaction with the present or visions for the future. Nostalgia is often, but not always, invoked by personal memories of people, times, and crucially, of place. It evokes feelings of happiness, longing, or bittersweetness. Many makers draw on history, the past and memory of place as inspiration for their miniatures. Recalling the past can be challenging or even painful, but also provides an opportunity to repair, resolve and share difficulty or suffering. 

Nostalgic art can forge connections with others. Reminiscing has also been shown to increase the sense that aspects of life are precious, meaningful and have worth. For miniaturists, capturing the nostalgia of places that draw on personal memory in 3D is reparative and cathartic - a corrective to feelings of disruption, insecurity and destruction.