Product Description

This work is an essay by the architect John Pawson, both expressing and embodying the ideas of reduction, of simplicity, of austerity, of repetition. The pages reveal stark but beautiful images of architecture and engineering, of ceramics and furniture, of photography and works of art, from many periods and cultures, that all combine to express the idea of simplicity. As the author explains in a brief introduction, these ideas find their expression in art and design, and have their beginnings in the realms of religious and philosophical convictions. The austerity of a Cistercian monastery or the simplicity of a Zen garden are both emanations of the same urge to reduce, to make clear, to unburden. Through a sequence of carefully orchestrated pictures, this book clarifies the way in which this mode of thinking has inspired the work of artists and architects from Ancient Egypt to contemporary Mexico or Japan. Possibly most of all, this text is a work of art in its own right as its design and production values reinforce the ideas of the author.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #62781 in Books
• Published on: 1998-09
• Format: Abridged
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 326 pages

Customer Reviews

A deeply inspired and elegant exploration of a complex area
Pawson succeeds in insilling strong emotional feelings in the reader through the portayal and description of simple visual images. His outstanding understanding of 'minimum' is amply demonstrated through the use of a diverse range of images many of which are non-architectural. Through this innovative work he manages not only to convey the essense of a complex concept to the student but also provides enough insight to stretch the mind of those who are experieced in the appreciation of minimal images and concepts. A beautiful book that will be savoured by those that wish to enhance their appreciation of 'minimum'.

this visual essay is beutiful in its simplicity
if a picture is worth a thousand words this piece speeks volumes. the images are well chosen and beautifully pressented.