The importance of emptiness

Emptiness is academically defined as " the state of containing nothing", but can be understood in many other ways besides just a physical state. Emptiness can be felt both emotionally and psychologically. But this isn't a blog about the brain or anything scientific so let's just stick to what we know best: Art.

In art, the concept of emptiness plays a major role in the composition of a painting, the layout of a graphic poster and even in architecture and interior design. The minimalist movement came about in the 1950's and is defined as the deliberate lack of decoration or adornment in style and design. I personally am a big fan of this movement as I believe an interior or exterior space should be able to speak for itself through it's walls and corners without the necessity of extravagant furniture. I am by no means encouraging people to sleep on the cold floor of their bedroom, but I suggest you do an inventory of things in your room and really interrogate yourself on their actual purpose. If you deconstruct a bedroom's purpose to it's core you will find that what it really needs is found in the noun; a bed. Now all that is around it is added comfort that humans have slowly acostumbed themselves to.

A house interior may not be the best place to start discussing the importance of minimalism, but a museum on the other hand is. During a recent visit to the "Musée des Beaux Arts" in Lausanne, I was mesmerized by the simplicity of the interior that made the exposed art stand right out to my eyes. In my eyes the building itself was the masterpiece not the art that was kept in it. With such simple but imposing lines you would not expect upon your entrance that the interior would be so light and appeasing. This interior also made me recognize and appreciate the importance of windows and open spaces, just like lungs the building needs its oxygen as well.

I suggest that the next time you find yourself in a museum, look around you, look up, down, everywhere before you lay your eyes on just what is hanging on the walls. It is a much more powerful feeling when you are submerged in the art yourself than just looking at it from the outside.

Every building or space you step into can be made into something magnificent, it only requires you to look up.