Aesthetic Exploration: Minimalism

The aesthetic that I chose to explore is minimalism. Originating from the 1950s and prospering during the 1960’s and 1970’s, minimalism arose from the idea that art should not be limited to societal standards. Rather than being a luxury only affordable to the rich, minimalism demonstrates art in its purest form and is something that can be viewed and enjoyed by everyone. The core of minimalism is to exemplify the true beauty behind a piece by removing all unnecessary distractions. Examples of this can be seen in the images below.

Two Open Modular Cubes/Half-Off 1972 Sol LeWitt 1928-2007 Purchased 1974 [1]
144 Magnesium Square 1969 Carl Andre born 1935 Purchased 1973 [1]

Minimalism today has evolved to become more of a style or way of life. Building off the same ideas from the past, minimalism today involves creating styles or organizing your life to contain the bare essentials. Whether this is seen in the context of clothing or overall lifestyle, limiting the amount of overall “things” allows for not only better functionality but it also highlights the key components in use. Examples of this can be seen in the images below.

[3]
[4]
[5]

Citations:
[1] https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/m/minimalism
[2] http://www.selflesslystyled.com/blog/minimalist
[3] http://thepersonalgrowthlab.com/how-minimalism-will-improve-your-focus-productivity/
[4] https://www.amerisleep.com/blog/be-a-greener-minimalist/
[5] https://lifestylebyps.com/blogs/mens-fashion-blog/121612737-8-absolutely-stunning-minimalist-looks-you-can-steal

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3 Comments. Leave new

  • Chris Mcfadden
    February 1, 2019 1:25 pm

    I am a big fan of the minimalist aesthetic. The clean lines and lack of clutter are easy on the eyes. I completely agree that it is a way of life. A way of life that I strive for but never seem to reach because I’m a bit of a pack rat. Maybe add one more picture because I think there are supposed to be 6.

    Reply
  • Evan,
    I have explored many forms of minimalism and enjoyed reading about the origin of it. Have you seen Marie Kondo’s show on Netflix about it? Today, minimalism is thriving as more of a “fad” rather than an aesthetic. So, I agree that this aesthetic has become a way of life for many. Have you looked into how something that may not be pleasing to some may be a minimalists dream – such as tiny homes? I have always found these ways of life to be intriguing. Maybe throw some of these lifestyles into this!

    Reply
  • Hi Evan,

    I too think Minimalism is a very interesting style. The first thing that came to my mind is Nomos watches, they have simple styles and are aesthetically pleasing. I like how you mentioned minimalism has evolved to a way of life. I have watched a movie about a person who travels a lot and only buy minimal number of items that he can carry with him, sorry I can’t remember the name of the movie… Anyway, my suggestion for your post is to maybe talk about what are the key factors that makes something with minimalism style aesthetically pleasing.

    Reply

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