PRESENTATION ON MINIMALISM ART MOVEMENT
BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO MINIMALISM
WHAT IS MINIMALISM
Cambridge Dictionary assert that Minimalism
is a style in art, design and theatre that uses
the smallest range of materials, colours and
simple shapes or forms.
Minimalism is a design style that emphasises
simplicity and focuses on clean lines,
minimalist colour and basic shapes.
Minimalism continue……..
Minimalism is not only about art but also
applies to the art of living. It is used in
architecture, structural, fashion, design,
literature, music and home décor.
Less is more that’s the concept on
Minimalism
Minimalism continue
Tony Smith 1962 Atland Magazine What you see
steel, painted black is what you see
Dan Flavin Untitled
lights
CHARACTERISTICS
Sharp edges
Repeating
Geometric shapes and patterns like
square placed along side one another
in repetitive sequence .
Blocks of colour
Minimalist focus more on utilizing
monochromatic colours. These are
usually (black, white and grey)
Precise lines
Placing objects on vertical/ horizontal
planes often including the floor.
Use industrial materials like wood,
material, plastic, concrete as well as
lights.
Period and Places of Minimalism
The minimalism movement was developed
after World War II between 1960 and early
1970.
The movement is chiefly American originating
from New York City.
CAUSES OF THE MOVEMENT
Primarily it was to override the Abstract
Expressionism movement by renouncing story
telling art, or metaphors from their art .
There was need to focus on space and sleek
simplistic works.
Renouncing of art that they thought had became
stale and academic
Representation of reality as they wanted art
works to be in their original form.
Minimalists wanted to use modular fabrication
and industrial material.
MAJOR ARTISTS IN MINIMALISM
The most prominent minimalism art movement
artist are Frank Stella, Donald Judd, Don Flavin,
Robert Morris and Carl Andre
Presenting the same movement they all had a
lot in common but at the same time each of
them have their own special features and
signature moments.
Frank Stella 1936-present
He is an American artist who specialises in panting, printmaking and sculpturing whose
Black Paintings were exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1959, began to
turn away from the gestural art of the previous generation.
This painting embodied all his art views, monochrome colours, rectangular forms and
blurred lines
Frank Stella,
(die Fahne Hoch, !965)
Donald Judd1929-1994
He was not only an artist but also an important theoretician for Minimalism.
He had numerous versions of untitled works through out 1960 and 1970s however his
strong points was placing objects in a non conventional manner ,using the same color
or material and 3 dimensional space
Donald Judd
Untitled 1965
Don Flavin 1933-1996
His works differ in some ways from other minimalists. The work itself is not comprised
of the material he works with
He worked with florescent light and coloured tubes creating a completely new form of
art that is most notable from its lack of materiality
His light installations explore the interrelationship with space colour and light
Dan Flavin Untitled
1969
Carl Andre 1935-present
Is an American sculpture and artist. His art work appear grid like and linear in
structure.
His geometric patterns are usually created on the ground. He uses bricks and
various industrial materials. He sculptured geometric shapes and industrial
material
He defined his work as communist as it was accessible to everyone.
Carl Andre Lever
1966
ROBERT MORRIS 1931-2018
He was artist who specialise in sculpture, conceptual art, installation and other various
forms of art like land art and process art
His sculpture explore simple geometric shapes on a large scale such as cubes and
rectangular forms.
Robert Morris,
Spiral Jett 1970
Impacts of minimalism
Minimalism greatest effect is encouraging people to think, perceive
and behave in a new direction: towards less materialism and more
positive life experience.
It removed all forms of self expression and individuality.
Through the removal of decorative and figurative elements
minimalistic art focused on the textural and material elements in a
pure abstract form.
Minimalistic art offers a highly purified form of beauty.
Continued………….
Minimalism can also be seen representing such qualities as
truth(peace , order and harmony) because it does not pretend to be
anything rather than what it is.
It re-defines the nature of life. It was quality over quantity that
minimalists follow.
It implemented a minimalistic lifestyle whereby people can live with
fewer possessions focusing only on the ones they need
Influence of Minimalism in Zimbabwe Art
Minimalist art reflects truth and simplicity by using only the basics to
create different art pieces.
In Zimbabwe artist like Henry Munyaradzi and Nicholas
Mukomberanwa had developed minimalist approach.
Nicholas
Mukomberanwa
Spirit Owl, 1989
REFERENCE
Cambridge Dictionary
Craven Wayne. American Art, History and
Culture . (2003)
Joselit David. American Art. (2003)
THANK YOU
