Does this spark joy?

The joy of clutter – The world sees Japan as a paragon of minimalism. But its hidden clutter culture shows that ‘more’ can be as magical as ‘less’

In my dreams I would have a minimalist house, but the reality is the exact opposite.
My house more resembles a workshop, with work in progress everywhere
But its not by accident, or lack of attention – quite the opposite.

I have a vivid memory of visiting a friends Dad in Nelson, back when I was still at University & was trying to work out what life I wanted (ie anything except what I was studying, Electrical Engineering!)

My friends Dad was Jens Hansen (RIP) the brilliant jeweller, who amongst many, many other things was commissioned to make the ‘One Ring’ for The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy…

So we turned up at his house and I have three vivid memories of the experience. First his gregarious welcoming nature, second his lounge was bare earth (they had pulled up all the floorboards as part of ongoing renovation of the house) but third was the narrow sunroom that ran the entire length of the house which was absolutely packed with books. Not tidy & minimalist at all, but a profoundly deep resource that he had collected over his lifetime and which must have fed his extraordinary work.

Ever since, when I see an impressive minimalist house or apartment I think (a) have they not moved in yet? and (b) show me the library. Not ebooks on your phone, show me their library. Where is the idiosyncratic deep resource they’ve built up over their interesting lifetime, that feeds their psyche & dreams?

From great clutter grows great work – minimalist or not!