I came across an article by Aradhya Jha (shared by Kai in Dense Discovery), where she takes a swing at minimalism:

Minimalism is a form of neocolonialism and Western cultural hegemony.

That caught my attention.

A preference for clean lines and neutral colours supposedly suppresses the rich ethnic traditions of the East. She references Said and Western "chromophobia", calls minimalism "fascist", and calls for resistance through maximalist self-expression.

Well, that's not everything she writes about it. Let's roast minimalism a little.

Last updated: 30 April 2026

Minimalism as Western neocolonialism

Look, if she had written this seventy years ago, fair enough. If colonial rule forced its architectural style onto people and used it to suppress local expression — that's obviously not okay. But today?

If we set aside the political charge, minimalism can also just be about a living room and architecture:

• If richly decorated architecture sparks creativity, that's fine.
• If bare walls spark creativity, that's fine too.

It can go wrong when:

• The things around me don't come from me.
• I'm doing something that doesn't fit me and doesn't affect me positively.
• It gets in the way — even mentally (an overly decorated home can do that too).

And what about the claim that less is boring?

Maximalist trends — less is boring

Aradhya looks beyond architecture.

"Maximalist trends embodying the principle of 'less is a bore' are gradually making their way into areas such as makeup, fashion, and interior design. Bold patterns and vivid colour palettes are finding their way back into the mainstream. Building such a counterculture is a necessary and refreshing step toward disrupting dominant narratives."

Aradhya has fallen into her own trap. The trend doesn't matter. As The Minimalists say:

It's about choosing timeless over trendy.

Trends are an external force — nobody wakes up with an innate desire for a capybara t-shirt. The capybara has to be sold to us by marketing.

Minimalism is about knowing your own needs and resisting trends. Consumerist life leaves many people unsatisfied, and instead of endless options, they choose less.

Minimalism is one of those choices.

But Aradhya pushes harder and brings in arguments about fascism.

Minimalism as fascism

Aradhya uses a quote from Italian architect Fabrizio Casiraghi:

"Take the straightforward statement of Italian architect Fabrizio Casiraghi: 'I think minimalism is fascism, because it forces you to live in a very unnatural way. You are a prisoner of the order you have built to maintain the perfect shape of your home.'"

No and no. If we're prisoners of our own order, that's clutter. Rules that make life harder aren't minimalism.

Minimalism as a necessity

Aradhya, minimalism is unavoidable in today's Western world. Without it, we stumble around like someone blindfolded with a backpack full of rocks.

Never in history:

• Have we been able to buy so many things.
• Have we done so many activities.
• Has so much information been thrown at us.
• Have we had to learn how to be bored.

For me, minimalism is a path. To maximise what matters (to us).