My approximation to the minimalist conception comes from the personal connection I have made throughout my life with the essential and brevity. It has been nourished by my readings and approach to expressions of philosophy and art.
Having known the aphorism, through ancient Greek philosophers, such as Heraclitus – “You cannot step into the same river twice” – was one of the first motivations to approach the essentiality of thinking and saying. From there to Lao-Tse – “He who speaks the most, exhausts himself the soonest” – and to the great cultivators of the aphorism.
My second motivation, linked to the previous one, is the tradition of Japanese poetry, of Zen origin, condensed in the haiku, with its three verses of five, seven and five syllables consecutively. Matsuo Bashō has lent us his light: “A slight moment / lingers over the flowers / the moonlight.” Also, his painting made of those simple strokes and the emptiness of his surroundings, which has influenced many Western painters.
And finally, my appreciation and taste for certain contemporary musicians who can be called minimalists. For their basic, repetitive melodic and rhythmic structures, with an acute mental and spiritual resonance, such as Arvo Pärt, Philip Glass and Ludovico Einaudi, whom I often listen to. Also nourished by Eastern music, and by Western atonal music of the 20th century.
All this has contributed to my poetic and fictional writing, inclined to brevity and the essential, as I can show below in poems from my books:
An abyss emerges
in the fall of a leaf
Green and fragile body
of emptiness
Blink of eternity
The mirror hides its illusion
The word opens a mirror
We are a mirror through the word
References of my books:
Malavé, José (1991). Breviario de sombras. Venezuela: CALJARS.
Malavé, José (2004). Oculta y próxima. Venezuela: Universidad de Oriente.
The photos are my own, and are intended to illustrate, in a certain way, the spirit of my text.
Thank you for your kind attention. I hope that my writing can be compatible with the concept of the community. Greetings.
Hey there!
We are delighted that you have discovered our community, and we look forward to seeing you around:)
We trust that you have seen our Introduction, Content Ideas & Posting Guidelines, which could be a great tool for the inspiration of content.
There's always some activity in the community, namely, our weekly publication called #KISS (an acronym for our community motto, Keep It Simple & Smart), presents you with blog ideas for the week, to boost community activities.
A #KISS publication is always pinned on the community's feed.
Secondly, we have our Daily/Weekly Theme topics, where you can find the active week, however, you are free to present any minimalist-focused post at any time, as long as it is original content.
We do prefer original photos over sourced photos from the internet, and we find relevant photos to conceptualise your stories more interesting.
Welcome again, and see you around the community.
Thank you for your welcome and receptiveness. I will try, as much as possible, to publish in this community of my interest. Best regards, @minimalistliving.
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Japan had lifestyle minimalism by their weather. I heard that is because in Japan eartquake usually happened so it's make them to adopted the minimalism.
Indeed, it could be said that minimalism in Japanese culture is millenary, and marks much of its traditional life (houses, gardens, art, etc.). Thank you for your comment, @viviehardika.
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