Gazi Yaşargil: A minimalist genius in neurosurgery in parallel with the minimalism movement in art

Prof. Dr. Gazi Yaşargil passed away at the age of 100 with the title of “Neurosurgeon of the Century”, leaving numerous invented neurosurgical instruments and techniques as well as trained neurosurgeons behind as his legacy. What mattered most to Yaşargil was finishing a surgery without causing harm to normal tissue. To this end, he introduced microscope into neurosurgery for the first time and developed many instruments to enhance his new techniques. Yaşargil’s minimalist studies dating back to 1960s paved the road to modern, more advanced minimally invasive techniques. Notably, emergence of minimalist art movement coincides with Yaşargil’s initial studies. Even though art, science and philosophy are distinct disciplines, it cannot be denied that they influence, pass through, and converge with each other throughout the history. One can observe how movements from different disciplines are embraced by others, fostering mutual empowerment while allowing each to pursue its own course. Similar pattern is apparent in minimalist art movement and minimally invasive surgical approaches. The idea of telling more with less by avoiding unnecessary materials and minimizing the number of objects to enhance the expression in minimalist art, has transformed into performing surgery with minimal harm through less invasive techniques that optimally preserve normal tissue and promote rapid patient recovery. Gazi Yaşargil pioneered the development of minimally invasive techniques in neurosurgery, simultaneously, with the emergence of the minimalist art movement, science and art reunited after a long hiatus.