[Bread-Baking Typewriter] The Origin of Desire Toward Minimalism

Best-selling minimalism guides in bookstores all emphasize that "less is better." They spare no advice on throwing away items unused for over a month, living with fewer clothes, downsizing the home, and cutting unnecessary relationships. However, the more one tries to become a minimalist, the more it feels like a blow to the back of the head. Buying sturdy, long-lasting furniture, sleek yet aesthetic Apple smartphones, and healthy organic foods requires spending more money. The paradox that "a life that looks simple is actually more expensive" is a common situation encountered when pursuing minimalism. Disposing of things is relatively easy. The noisy streets, traffic hell on the way to work, and the surging crowds are unavoidable daily realities. The "digital minimalism" that urges escaping from the flood of news and various SNS content is attempted but leads to feelings of suffocation after just a few tens of minutes. Nevertheless, on the social networking service (SNS) Instagram, there are about 13 million posts tagged with '#minimalism,' and even now, around ten new images are posted every minute.

Most people dream of an elegant yet simple life. The problem is the reality that we have no choice but to live amid economic recession and structural inequality. This is also the background for critic Kyle Chaika's book Simple Desires: An Exploration of Minimalism, which explores the roots of the desire for minimalism. "My generation has never experienced material stability or healthy relationships. Resources available for immediate use have always been severely insufficient, and the competition to claim what remains is fierce beyond measure." Ultimately, the backlash arising from unstable circumstances has created the minimalism craze.

The minimalism covered by the media only helps us, living in precarious times, feel a slight sense of stability. The guideline to throw away everything can instead erase individual stories and personalities, pushing us into dull spaces. Instead, the author contemplates the essence of minimalism that can be pursued in the long term. Seneca, the ancient Greek Stoic philosopher representing 'asceticism,' practiced as much self-denial as possible within given circumstances and human imperfection. As Seneca said, "Philosophy only demands a frugal life. Not hardship," simplicity does not deny pleasure itself. Some criticize minimalism as hypocritical. However, minimalists can become a kind of pragmatist who balances the desire for a better world with the limits of their own influence.

Specific behavioral guidelines for minimalists are not directly presented. However, the author alternatively conveys the teachings of Zen Buddhism. Zen Buddhism 'focuses' on multiple possibilities rather than fixed answers. It recognizes impermanence rather than eternal continuity and encourages attention to the trivialities of daily life. It is an attitude of relinquishing control rather than forcing, and trying to pay attention to the surroundings instead of erecting defensive walls. The more ambiguity is accepted, the more one can embrace the existence of the opposite as part of the same whole. "A deeper form of minimalism cannot be categorized by hashtags or sold on T-shirts. There are no step-by-step guidelines or correct answers, and it involves risks." The author shares a lesson felt in a garden in Kyoto, Japan, embodying this mindset. "Plants bloom and wither, walls fade in color, stones weather. They change and remain the same. (Omitted) At that moment, I witnessed dramatic simplicity alongside a life of its own will. The garden was filled with peace."

Simple Desires: An Exploration of Minimalism | Kyle Chaika | Pillow | 360 pages | 18,000 KRW

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