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Urban Miniature Cities So Detailed You’ll Need A Magnifying Glass
You have to look incredibly close to see it, but Joshua Smith packs an immense amount of detail into his miniature worlds. The Australian artist has a flair for the microscopic, and his latest project captures the familiar grit of urban life in a fascinatingly small-scale model.
The centerpiece of his recent work, Temple Street, is modeled after a real apartment block in Kowloon City, Hong Kong. Using finely carved cardboard, medium-density fibreboard and paint, he manages to emulate every minute aspect of a rough, big city landscape. Rust, graffiti, tiny advertisements, and other touches are perfectly placed and look realistic.
“I want viewers to be fooled, if I take a photo of the completed work in sunlight, to think it is the real thing,” Smith told ArchDaily. He has also produced models of more modest buildings, garbage dumpsters, and shops that fall under a running theme of urban darkness, which we previously wrote about here.
More info: Joshua Smith, Facebook
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What do you think ?
Susann Campbell 7 years ago
Play with your Polly Pocket and find new things for her to own . Make a house for her out of a shoe box or any other object you think will make a lovely home or zany home for her. Did you know that acorn caps make lovely wooden bowls?
Load More Replies...
Samantha Manley 7 years ago
I was just scrolling through the pictures without reading the article, as a miniature painter I let out a squeal of delight at each photo and as a South Australian now living in the US I let out an extra squeal of delight when I saw the tiny Farmers Union Iced coffee container. Now I'm homesick & jealous of his skill.
Kate Baxter 7 years ago
Wonderful. I built a doll house for my niece when she was small. It took me hours to make the little furniture etc by hand. Make all the carpets etc. She had it destroyed in a month. I cried when I saw it. I wish I had never given it to her. I have always been fascinated by miniatures and these are incredibly creative.
Amanda Cariker 7 years ago
This is awesome! The tiniest of details are amazing! loves the leaves so much!!!
Rachel Rosky 7 years ago
I've had an obsession with the miniature world since I was 5, I eat this kind of artwork up!
Loredana Cornea 7 years ago
I think that he actually found a shrinking device. Where do I find one? I need it for when I'm traveling...
Glynis Lailann 7 years ago
The majority of buildings in Hong Kong look exactly like this. His sculpture is accurate.
Full Name 7 years ago
These are really, really good. One tiny detail that would help sell the one with the rooftop door with the sticker of the girl kneeling would be to put the grime in a circle around the k**b area, on the door itself. Peoples dirty fingers always leave marks on the door when they open rooftop doors with round knobs.
Azure Adams 7 years ago
I love these so much. Miniatures are awesome and we need more of them in this world
Susann Campbell 7 years ago
Daria B If you want to you can make a hidden hide out for hero action figures or what would their Apartments look like if it was a one room apt in N.Y. Would they collect action figures too. I have found one inch dolls and smaller that are in the doll house for the dolls that live there. If I have a doll or a stuffed animal they also can have a doll and a stuffed animal. So imagination can be limitless.
StarbeamGirly 7 years ago
These are absolutely amazing!! I also loved all of the Star Wars references! 😁
Kuriosity Studio 7 years ago
Beautiful & inspiring work... so much detail brought to life. Thanks for posting
Susann Campbell 7 years ago
This is fantastic. Facebook has clubs that share their work. Dr. Ruth has a dolls house that she shared on line. I just love small things too. LOL
Jace 7 years ago
I LOVE stuff like this. I wish I had the steady hands and patience (and money) to acquire this kind of skill (it would rock for my photography ideas). It looks fantastic. Though I'm not convinced the interior lighting is at all right (way too cool; looks blue in the photos, which were probably taken in a room with warm lighting, making the camera compensate with its white balance).
Amy Carter 7 years ago
Love these! Wow! I love the expression on the guy's face in the last photo, he looks so happy!
Jace 7 years ago
Indeed. Grown-ups should be allowed to make art. And to play.
Load More Replies...
Tiffany Zhu 7 years ago
OMG even on the table there is a cup and a magazine if I remember correctly. I believe that if I saw the inside of the building, it would look like the real thing!!!
Catalina Ioan 7 years ago
Oh, wow! If I didn't know better, I could swear these were the best tilt shift photos EVER! Amazing work!
David Sames 7 years ago
Here we have a prime example of what can be achieved when you have both natural talent and patience. Amazing!
Susann Campbell 7 years ago
Play with your Polly Pocket and find new things for her to own . Make a house for her out of a shoe box or any other object you think will make a lovely home or zany home for her. Did you know that acorn caps make lovely wooden bowls?
Load More Replies... Samantha Manley 7 years ago
I was just scrolling through the pictures without reading the article, as a miniature painter I let out a squeal of delight at each photo and as a South Australian now living in the US I let out an extra squeal of delight when I saw the tiny Farmers Union Iced coffee container. Now I'm homesick & jealous of his skill.
Kate Baxter 7 years ago
Wonderful. I built a doll house for my niece when she was small. It took me hours to make the little furniture etc by hand. Make all the carpets etc. She had it destroyed in a month. I cried when I saw it. I wish I had never given it to her. I have always been fascinated by miniatures and these are incredibly creative.
Amanda Cariker 7 years ago
This is awesome! The tiniest of details are amazing! loves the leaves so much!!!
Rachel Rosky 7 years ago
I've had an obsession with the miniature world since I was 5, I eat this kind of artwork up!
Loredana Cornea 7 years ago
I think that he actually found a shrinking device. Where do I find one? I need it for when I'm traveling...
Glynis Lailann 7 years ago
The majority of buildings in Hong Kong look exactly like this. His sculpture is accurate.
Full Name 7 years ago
These are really, really good. One tiny detail that would help sell the one with the rooftop door with the sticker of the girl kneeling would be to put the grime in a circle around the k**b area, on the door itself. Peoples dirty fingers always leave marks on the door when they open rooftop doors with round knobs.
Azure Adams 7 years ago
I love these so much. Miniatures are awesome and we need more of them in this world
Susann Campbell 7 years ago
Daria B If you want to you can make a hidden hide out for hero action figures or what would their Apartments look like if it was a one room apt in N.Y. Would they collect action figures too. I have found one inch dolls and smaller that are in the doll house for the dolls that live there. If I have a doll or a stuffed animal they also can have a doll and a stuffed animal. So imagination can be limitless.
StarbeamGirly 7 years ago
These are absolutely amazing!! I also loved all of the Star Wars references! 😁
Kuriosity Studio 7 years ago
Beautiful & inspiring work... so much detail brought to life. Thanks for posting
Susann Campbell 7 years ago
This is fantastic. Facebook has clubs that share their work. Dr. Ruth has a dolls house that she shared on line. I just love small things too. LOL
Jace 7 years ago
I LOVE stuff like this. I wish I had the steady hands and patience (and money) to acquire this kind of skill (it would rock for my photography ideas). It looks fantastic. Though I'm not convinced the interior lighting is at all right (way too cool; looks blue in the photos, which were probably taken in a room with warm lighting, making the camera compensate with its white balance).
Amy Carter 7 years ago
Love these! Wow! I love the expression on the guy's face in the last photo, he looks so happy!
Jace 7 years ago
Indeed. Grown-ups should be allowed to make art. And to play.
Load More Replies... Tiffany Zhu 7 years ago
OMG even on the table there is a cup and a magazine if I remember correctly. I believe that if I saw the inside of the building, it would look like the real thing!!!
Catalina Ioan 7 years ago
Oh, wow! If I didn't know better, I could swear these were the best tilt shift photos EVER! Amazing work!
David Sames 7 years ago
Here we have a prime example of what can be achieved when you have both natural talent and patience. Amazing!
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