Minimalism

Sometimes, less is more. In a time where everyday life for many is hectic and even overwhelming, the desire to create a clear and calm minimalist home interior is taking the world by storm. More than just a trend, for many minimalism is a lifestyle. The core concept behind the movement is to eliminate all that is either unnecessary or fails to bring you joy. In the words of William Morris, “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." 

Think minimalism could be right for your home? Get inspired by neutral color palettes, pair with stylish, modern and simple furniture and accessorize with beautiful yet simple minimalist art. 

In the art world, the minimalist movement began to flourish in the late 1960s to 1970s as a direct response to the bold and colorful abstract and Pop Art movements, where artists such as Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock dominated the scene. Minimalist artists such as Carl Andre, Sol LeWitt and Robert Morris were pioneers of the scene.

Much of contemporary art seeks to be understood, whether it be through subliminal messages or overt social commentary, whereas minimalist art generally does not. Instead, minimalist art simply is, its only purpose being to be beautiful and to express the reality of itself. As innovative minimalist painter Frank Stella said of his own work, “what you see is what you see."

Minimalism continued to thrive alongside the lifestyle movement. For instance in the 1990s German artist Hannes Forster drew inspiration from architecture to create his beautiful yet simple geometric block drawings series.  

In today's art scene, painter and sculptor Len Klikunas employs shizen, the Japanese concept of naturalness, absence of pretense, or artificiality, in his series The Blocks to create the honesty of representation that exists within minimalist art. 

Arturo Fermandois, a Chilean photographer, uses minimalism in his photographs that explore light using negative space and simple lines or shapes. 

Meanwhile, French painter Emmanuelle Leblanc's canvases veer towards abstraction, their diffused color creating an ambiance rather than a distinct figurative image. 

Celebrate the beauty of simplicity with Artsper's selection of artworks carefully curated to create the perfect minimalist interior.