Minimalism was an art form in which the work was stripped to its barest features. It identified with Western Art following World War 11.
“Minimalist” is self-explanatory referring to a work showing only an outline. The colour was limited. The design could be simple geometric, but with no representation, symbolism or imagery.
The paintings were hard edged, forming rigid planes of colour or just one single colour. The viewer was expected to perceive a relationship between the parts within the work and the parts of the whole work. I imagine if one were confronted by a blank painted canvas, this would be somewhat difficult.
The aim was for complete simplicity. There was no sign of personal expression, hence the works’ anonymity. The viewer was supposed to experience the work more intensely, without any distractions such as composition or form. In fact the finished work merely conveyed a theory.
Minimalist art had different phases.The forms were distilled, so that the masses could understand what they saw, and it was hoped that this would create a universal art language.
In the 1960’s another phase was that the works were completely devoid self-expression. Soon the minimilists began using rectangular and cubic images, negating all meaning, areas, and themes. Just the single canvas, blank or otherwise caught the eye. Art had abandoned nature altogether.
Copyright.
Margaret Houghton
