Minimalism 2 by Joe Lencioni

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A commenter, Chris Rusak, said yesterday:

I think what also draws many people to minimalism, in addition to what you mentioned, is that though many of the works can seem quiet due to their simplicity and complexity, they can become quite loud and affective in our daily life. The outside world seems to be a cluttered and cacophonous complexity but images in minimalism seem to be constructed symphonics that soothe rather than disrupt.

I think he’s exactly right. Images in minimalism are a sort of medicine that counterbalances some of the sometimes nauseating effects of modern life. Personally, when I stare at simple images like this I feel more peaceful… like I’m finally home. It’s like a kind of meditation. They relieve some of the tension that has built up throughout the day. And that’s certainly a good thing in my book.

He also mentions, on his blog:

Occasionally I walk around town with a pair of high density earplugs in. This originally started out as a way to combat the annoyances a laundromat provides through the course of chores, but what I noticed walking back and forth to my apartment, basket in arms, was that as I turned down the volume of the city life, my sight and what I saw became more vivid.

In a way, (although he puts it in different terms) he is experimenting with a minimalism of the senses. I find this fascinating–it is a type of minimalism that I haven’t personally considered exploring before. Sure, I’ve taken my iPod to the grocery store to block out some of the noise and to add my own soundtrack to my shopping experience, but this takes things to the next level and might be worth getting into a little deeper.

In fact, it reminds me of a couple of friends (Tim and Adam) who, in college, locked themselves in an art gallery for a few days, blindfolded. Their goal was to create art without the use of the primary sense that they traditionally relied on to create their art. I didn’t think of it in terms of minimalism at the time, but now that I think of it, there is something peaceful in that idea.

So, are you drawn to minimalism or are you repelled by it? I’d like to hear your take in the comments.