For the past few years, I’ve been collecting notes and quotes on minimalism, and with those trying to sculpt a new definition of minimalism. The one Wikipedia uses (‘the work is stripped down to its most fundamental features’) is just too loose for my liking.
Minimalism and its extensions are so diverse, that it has proven to be difficult to find the common denominators. I started at Minimal Art, continued through minimalist architecture, and looked at industrial design, graphic design, photography, and so on, and so on.
Right now I’m at at point where I think it’s got something. Time to ask for thoughts and feedback, so here goes:
Minimalism is an artistic movement which sets out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts.
Does that makes sense?
From my choice of words and elements you may notice that I am pretty hardcore and philosophical in my views, and what I consider to be ‘real’ minimalism. To me, it’s all about less variation in form (more repetition), less visual details (more whitespace), less noise (more signal), less ‘interestingness’ (more purity), et cetera.
The result of a successful minimalist exercise is a direct view on the true form of the subject, which people may appreciate for its honesty, its calm, the absence of triviality, and the freedom from emotions.
What do you think about this definition – is his one better than the one on Wikipedia? What should I change? I’d love to hear!
I agree…
How about changing your definition to maximalism like Maarten Van Severen said: to get the maximum from the minimum of material.
I like that thought, Remco, as it touches the desire for elegance: the economy of means. However, I consider minimalism to be broader than elegance – it is more about identifying a subject’s identity, and bringing that out. Would you agree?
I love minimalism for the clean style…
I find the Wikipedia description ‘the work is stripped down to its most fundamental features’ a lot more minimalistic than ‘Minimalism is an artistic movement which sets out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts.’
;)
Minimalism is the removal of all non-relevant elements in order to reveal the essence.
“Minimalism is an artistic movement which sets out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts.”
ok its great, and how about-
Minimalism is the concept of exposing the true essence and identity of a subject by eliminating all of its non essential detail, form and features.
I know you add concept to the end of this, to me the whole process of minimalising is a concept… the idea that we can remove the non vital attributes of any given form, subject, object etc and, like some one says above get the maximum from the minimum.
I like that Chkn, but I’d cut it down even more:
“Minimalism is the concept of exposing the pure essence of a subject by removing all non essential detail and form.”
For me,
‘features’ and
‘detail’ are too similair or open to definition through opinion.
Minimalism: A state where form does not exceed function.
Mmm. I like that too. :)
Minimalism is.
I would have to agree with DANO…
Minimalism: A state where form does not exceed function.
Hi everybody,
Thank you for all your comments so far. When I read through them I notice two things:
[1] Some of you feel the definition is too long
[2] Some of you see an overlap between the various elements in the definition.
I’d like to reply to these.
[1] A definition has to be complete, unambiguous and elegant. Note that this definition should cover minimalism in art, architecture, design, photography, etc – the entire realm. Many of the alternatives offered only cover part of the ground (such as Dano’s – which it a great find though!) and are therefor incomplete.
[2] In order to cover the entire ground, the various elements were picked with great care. Essence refers to the soul/core of a subject, essentials to its features or functionalities, and identity to its meaning. To obtain those we respectively leave out non-essential forms (shapes, details), features (functional characteristics) or concepts (such as humor, intension or meaning).
My question to you now is:
What can I do to make it more complete, unambiguous and elegant?
I think it’s true that today people see minimalism as minimal design. So including this part “is an artistic movement” is appropriate for todays definition of minimalism.
Most of the sites/blog I know about ‘minimalism’ is really about minimal design.
Definitely not Gandhi or Buddha’s type of minimalism.
Great discussion! If you follow the concept of minimalism, then the sentence of ‘Threeark’ is the answer:
“Minimalism is.”
:) Mh, i’m not sure, if it really needs the “artistic”, because simple life can also be minimal – but it’s true, that most people today combine it with art, design and so on. Perhaps it’s not time to define it, it’s time to re-define, what minimalism IS.
Ok, perhaps the last sentence is not clear – i mean, i think it should be clear in a definition, that minimalism isn’t always combine with artistic/art/design-things (in my small opinion). Mhh, its difficult to describe it in words….
Let’s take a beautiful landscape, like a tundra or a glacial- in my eyes, this can also be something “minimal” and beautiful, clean, open, wide, light… but it isn’t art in a conventional way. But perhaps minimalism is a too personal view for a explanation.
Hi Emanuel-S, great that you’ve picked this up with so much interest. I understand what you’re trying to say. The minimalist lifestyle is become increasingly popular, and I could see minimalism in nature as well.
However, for the sake of definition, let’s focus on the artistic movement.
Minimalism allows us to appreciate more the “boundary”. Use the minimum necessary to point out the importance of the thing in itself and also the space it occupies, giving equal importance to both the “positive” to “negative.” Let me explain with an example: a minimalist architecture in the use of “less and essential” allows you to emphasize the use of light, the proper use of space; it’s much more difficult to create “good” with less elements than many;) In conclusion I could say that I see minimalism as a perfect balance between full and empty, never a concept might give a better idea as the Yin and Yang…
Minimalism is a concept achieved by the process of exposing the simplest essence and identity of a subject by eliminating all of its non essential detail, form and features.
Minimalism isn’t easily defined, but it helps if you understand Phenomenology. In Phenomenology there is an idea know as Evidenz. Evidenz is an object or issue that is perceived in the most clear way possible. When looking at a Minimalist work of art the viewer should be contemplating, “What is this form?” Building on this idea Husserl, created a concept called “Bracketing.” Bracketing is a method of understanding a phenomena by shaving a concept or piece down to its core concept and experience. This is very evident both visually and conceptually in Minimalist art.
These ideas aren’t really explored to a great degree in design, but occasionally certain works will touch on them. Within design I feel the word Minimalism is substituted for the “Less is More” mantra, often incorrectly.
I like to think A.G. Fronzoni was a Minimalist.
Great definition, but it’s hard to beat the classic oft quoted: Less is more! Though in fairness I suppose that is more a call to arms than a definition.
I like your more stripped down version Derek.. and also have to agree with Dano on what he said>
“Minimalism: A state where form does not exceed function.”
I wouldn’t say minimalism is an ‘artistic movement’. It is art. Thats a misconception, I think: that minimalism is just another art movement. Art is minimalism. And minimalism is subjective, no matter who says what. You can only decide what is important for you. Just because something is important to you doesn’t mean it is for someone else. Anyway, minimalism has always philosophically been the basis of art. Artists strip away what is important to them, to reveal an essence, to minimalize. For example, when a photographer takes a picture, they aren’t taking a picture of the entire environment, only a minimalized section of it. Minimalism is a search for purity, I think. Its a search for the soul in things.
for me…Minimalism (mnm).. is a Life style.. beyond any art movement.. beyond any “empty definition”. it’s a way how i see the world.. how i think.. I’ve been doing MNM design in all my entire student architectural school life …Minimal design its my life.. .I really agree with your point.
Minimalism sets out to expose essentials of a subject through eliminating all non-essential.
:)
I think Dano’s definition isn’t that great at all. It may sound catchy, but if you look at what it says you see it’s way off:
- Minimalism is not “a state”
- And what defines “function”? In proper design/art, every expect has is function – decoration is a very valid function, for instance.
- And as form and function are different concepts they cannot be compared 1 on 1, and therefore logically form can never “exceed” function
So yes, it sounds catchy, but as a working definition not really useful.
Decoration by definition is functionless, unless you consider aesthetics a function. But either way they can be compared. For example, you cannot read a analog clock with no hands. If there are no markings to let you tell time, no matter how beautiful its shape, its form disregards its function. That said, form and function is a structuralist idea and that is more closely tided with modernism, especially in design.
Minimalism is the stripping away of all context and all non essential parts. It is self contained.
Although minimalism is commonly associated with the artistic movement/ practice- I don’t think it’s necessary to label minimalism as an associate of Art. Minimalism is all encompassing, It’s a way of life, an art form, a mindset- and so forth and so on.
I think the definition you have is strong, but could use some tweaking. Minimalism is more of a practice, if you will. It’s the act of stripping away the unnecessary that makes minimalism, minimalism. It’s not the object or painting in itself, but what it represents, how it was created.
Minimalism is about evoking simplicity.
Minimalism is striving for purity.
Minimalism is only the necessary.
And by far one of the most complex concepts, ironically. Good luck!
Anyone who is interested in minimalism and has actually tried to design anything minimal will come to the paradoxical conclusion that it is quite hard to create something simple.
Therefore I really like this definition of minimalism, which emphasizes the proces of achieving minimalism: “The minimum could be defined as the perfection that an artefact achieves when it is no longer possible to improve it by subtraction. ”
I’m quoting from the introduction of a little book by John Pawson, appropriately titled ‘minimum’, which contains many more interesting thoughts on minimalism in art but also as a way of life.
Very true, very simple. I love it!
Gershon, I disagree with you on two points:
I believe decoration can have two functions: Decoration can be used to communicate (the decorator cannot help but be subjective – the more subjective they are, the more they communicate). Decoration can also entertain, which is a perfectly valid function. I purposely use “entertain” rather than “attract” – the more popularly used word in definitions of “decorate” –since some decoration can be repulsive, yet still entertain. Hmmm, perhaps “engage” may even be a better term, as it might be a synthesis of both communicate and entertain. Obviously minimalism is about reducing the use of decoration, or at least leaving only the “essential” decoration.
And yes, you can read an analog clock with no markings. The clock designer relies on the “memory of markings” in the viewer’s mind to communicate the time. I suppose you could say that leaving out features or details and relying on the viewer’s memory of such details is uberminimalism.
Therefore most minimalist dinner would be to skip it and remember what yesterday’s dinner tasted like. :-)
The dinner bit was very entertaining.
I’m not sure we’re disagreeing. If it communicates something than its no longer decoration in my opinion.
minimalism is a journey of questioning to seek balance?
Minimalism is… the simplest expression of a concept
Your definition is true, but it’s about the applied part of the minimalism. Such as no repetition and and less visual details. Once again it is true, but then when i come to think about it, then there is a limit to it? If all the objects are stripped to the their most essential core, can variations be allowed?
“Minimalism is complexity wrapped in simplicity”
I feel it is seeing the all in almost none.
Seeing everything in near nothing.
Seeking the space in a room and revering it.
I see minimalism less as stripping to the simplest but more adding the absolute necessary to space.