MINIMALISM AS A KEY TREND AND CREATIVE STYLE IN THE SPHERE OF CONTEMPORARY ART

Abstract

Minimalism is one of the most influential and significant trends in contemporary art. It emerged in Europe in the early 20th century and gradually spread across various artistic practices. Its appearance marked the beginning of new conceptual approaches in painting, sculpture, architecture, installation, design, as well as in literature and other forms of artistic expression.The core concept of minimalism is the principle of «less is more,» which involves a radical simplification of forms, colors, and materials. This approach leads to the elimination of decorative elements and narrative components, emphasizing the purity of expression and essential characteristics of artistic ontology.Minimalist works are largely based on the use of geometric forms, a limited color palette, industrial materials, and such techniques as repetition and orderly arrangement of elements. These tools create a visual language distinguished by a sense of order and structure. At the same time, minimalism emphasizes the importance of interactive experience arising from the interplay between the artwork, space, and viewer, blurring the boundaries between art and everyday life.On the level of artistic value, minimalism not only challenges traditional aesthetic paradigms but also prompts profound reflection on the very nature of art. It reflects humanity’s pursuit of spiritual purity and renewed forms of perception in the post-industrial era.This study analyzes the emergence, evolution, and significance of minimalism in the context of contemporary art and outlines the features of its application in current artistic practices.The aim of the article is to analyze both the external expression and internal forms of minimalism on various artistic levels, and to define the specifics of its application and influence across different spheres of artistic aesthetics.Research Methods. The methodological framework of the study is based on an interdisciplinary approach that combines art criticism, historical-cultural, comparative-analytical, and phenomenological methods.Artistic analysis is used to examine the formal and stylistic characteristics of minimalist works in painting, sculpture, design, architecture, and installation. Special attention is paid to the analysis of artistic tools such as geometric forms, limited color palettes, repetition, materiality, and spatial qualities.The historical-cultural method made it possible to trace the origins and stages of development of minimalism as an artistic movement, from its early manifestations in early 20th-century European art to its transformations in post- industrial and postmodern contexts. The study explores the socio-cultural prerequisites for the emergence of the style and its connection with the philosophical ideas of modernism and conceptualism.The comparative-analytical method is applied to juxtapose minimalism with other contemporary art movements (such as conceptualism, abstractionism, and postmodernism), thus allowing for a clearer definition of its aesthetic autonomy and distinctive features.The phenomenological method allowed for the exploration of the viewer’s interaction with minimalist artwork as an intersubjective experience, focusing on the perception of space, silence, rhythm, emotional neutrality, and the effect of presence.Overall, the combination of several methods enabled a thorough investigation of the philosophical and aesthetic essence of minimalism as a style that continues to actively evolve within contemporary art.Scientific Novelty. The scientific novelty of the study lies in its comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to analyzing the impact of minimalist art in the context of contemporary artistic discourse. The focus of analysis includes not only the history of art but also painting, sculpture, design, architecture, and other creative fields.Conclusions. Minimalism in contemporary art is not only reflected in form, color, and space but, more importantly, acts as a cultural symbol with far-reaching influence. Minimalism is a complex of formal experimentation, philosophical speculation, and cultural dialogue.