People have different ways of preserving the memories of places that are close to their hearts. Most would probably take photos of them, while some would turn them into paintings or even embroidery designs. Well, Taiwanese artist Hank Cheng takes it a notch higher as he creates incredibly detailed dioramas to pay homage to these places.
From rural grocery stores and restaurants, to cluttered bedrooms and more, Cheng replicates real-life places with impressive attention to detail. In fact, in photos, it’s almost impossible to tell the difference between his creations and the real thing. So, to avoid confusion, the talented artist always makes sure to include his hand in the frame for size reference.
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Taiwanese artist Hank Cheng creates incredibly detailed dioramas of real-life places to pay homage to them
Cheng started creating these miniature replicas five years ago after being inspired by a Japanese scale model. It was so accurate that he thought it was real at first sight. Soon after, he decided to create his first piece. He patterned it after a Japanese restaurant that he frequented when he was still a student. As a professional interior designer and illustrator, it didn’t take long for Cheng to master the necessary techniques. And now, he has successfully turned it into a full-time career.
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He primarily crafts them out of recycled materials, wood and metal, and then carefully paints all the intricate details by hand
Having been raised in a thrifty family, recycling has been an essential feature of Cheng’s miniature masterpieces. He generally uses recycled materials and combines them with wood and metal to carefully craft each scale model. Although he usually recreates real-life places, he also sometimes incorporates fictional elements into his works.
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Although most of his dioramas feature real-life places, he also sometimes gives them a fictional twist
For instance, one piece features a Star Wars Stormtrooper inside an otaku’s room. In another piece, a “life-size” Gundam robot seems to have invaded an apartment room. Another notable piece is an imaginary “secret base” for a group of Minions which he made from a recycled Minion-shaped cookie tin.
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Although Cheng’s works are undeniably a sight to see, he hopes that people would also see the deeper message that they convey
“I hope each of my creations tells a story to get people interested, and it does not just look pretty or look realistic. I hope it shows some ‘warmth’ and the traces of real things.”
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So, is there something that this artist can’t replicate? Well, here’s his response:
“When people ask me if there’s anything that I can’t make, I jokingly say, ‘Only air and sunshine.'”
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You can check out more of his amazing dioramas below. And if you’re interested in buying a set of these miniature models, feel free to head over to his website to find out which ones are available for purchase.
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