These astoundingly intricate miniatures are so complex and so dreamlike they make one want to get closer and closer until you actually walk their many looping stairs and paths. Designed and built by Japanese artist Takanori Aiba, most of his pieces take a heavy dose of their influence from the art of bonsai, weaving plant-like forms throughout the classic architectural elements. Aiba even goes so far as to use the cascade form of bonsai in his piece above, along with classic terrariums and tables used in the art form.
See Also Surprisingly Unusual Photographs of Small Worlds
Takanori Aiba was born in 1953, and after studying traditional Japanese textiles and clothes dying at Tokyo Zokei University, he started his first career as a freelance maze illustrator (who knew that job existed?). His maze works where published for 10 years in Popye, a Japanese fashion magazine. He later founded his own company, Graphics and Designing Inc., which eventually expanded to working in concept design and art direction for architectural spaces. It was only in 2003 that he began creating the models we have here, clearly influenced by his experience as both a maze and architectural designer. It’s hard to think of two worlds that fit together better.
For more of Takanori Aiba’s impressive works, including images with realistic looking backdrops, head to his flickr page or his website, tokyogoodidea.com.
Via: Laughing Squid
