Minimalism is that approach that maintains that you must bet on the essentials of things. In other words, it is not about accumulating content or making complex proposals but about establishing fundamental elements and, therefore, the minimum expression of something. You could say that minimalism defends the motto of "less is more".
Minimalism can be specified in relation to the world of art or, on the other hand, as an intellectual stance.
In the art world
In the design of objects, in the field of decoration or in architecture, there is a minimalist trend. The main characteristic of this way of understanding art is to present creations of great simplicity.
In spaces decorated with minimalist approaches, there is a predominance of light or neutral colors, with very little furniture (the essentials), open spaces and very well defined geometric lines. In general, materials such as cement, wood or glass are used. The purpose of decorative minimalism is to create an environment of a certain purity and avoiding everything that is dispensable.
In the field of architecture there is also a commitment to a radical simplicity in the forms
A minimalist construction has to convey an idea of cleanliness and purity. Obviously, it is an architecture in which the important thing is the connection with the space and, at the same time, in which the materials suggest simplicity.
In any minimalist artistic proposal, everything that may be accessory is eliminated, since each thing is part of a set, of a harmonious whole.
An intellectual attitude
Outside of the art world, minimalism is a vital approach. Thus, if someone considers that they have too many things (objects, commitments, activities ...) and they think they should simplify their life, they are thinking with a minimalist approach. Being a minimalist is not simply living with few things, but it is a lifestyle and a way of understanding your own existence. You could say that minimalism consists of focusing on what is important to you and leaving everything else aside.
The goal of minimalism as a philosophy of life is the pursuit of happiness through the renunciation of everything that is superfluous. A certain minimalism can be found in some Eastern philosophical approaches (ying and yan or meditation) or in the religious asceticism of some Christian orders.
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