I greatly enjoyed an article in the Daily Mail about Japanese artist Takanori Aiba. Here’s an excerpt. (All images are taken from the artist’s Web site.)
Tending to a bonsai tree is a time consuming and painstaking process at the best of time.
But imagine combining that arduous and complex task with building scale models of windmills, lighthouses and even the Michelin Man.
Well imagine no more because one Japanese artist has done just that with these bizarre but fascinating miniature sculptures molded around bonsai trees.
Using craft paper, plastic, plaster, acrylic resin and paint, former maze illustrator Takanori Aiba has but in huge effort for small results by constructing a host of sprawling miniature communities that wrap around the tiny trees.
Following his work as an illustrator for Japanese fashion magazine POPYE he has spent the best part of the last 10 years producing these detailed mini worlds.
On his own website Aiba describes the art form as ‘an experimental approach to turn out a modern Bonsai style that portrays the beauty of spiritual accordance between human and nature in miniature’.
There’s more at the link.
I was intrigued by the article and pictures, plus the images on the artist’s Web site. I have to admit, they fascinate me! I’m going to have to devote more time to researching this and other art forms related to bonsai.
Peter