Treemendous! Big effort for little results as Japanese artist builds stunning miniature communities around bonsai creations



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.

Treemendous: Artist Takanori Aiba constructs tiny worlds around bonsai trees to create his unique models

Labour of love: Using craft paper, plastic, plaster, acrylic resin and paint, former maze illustrator Takanori Aiba has constructed a host of sprawling miniature communities that wrap around the tiny trees

Treemendous: Artist Takanori Aiba constructs tiny worlds around bonsai trees to create his unique models

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'.

He put his mind to creating the three dimensional art works, combining his knowledge and experience of maze illustrating and architecture, which he had also previously trained in.



Miniature worlds: Aiba describes his unusual art form as 'an experimental approach that portrays the beauty of spiritual accordance between human and nature in miniature'

Time consuming: The works have taken the artist hours to reconstruct, despite the cultivating of bonsai being an already time consuming effort Above par: Aiba creates a golf course around a tree in yet another of his impressive miniature landscape models

The works have taken the artist hours to reconstruct, despite the cultivating of bonsai being an already time consuming effort.

Bonsai trees are primarily tended to for aesthetics and exercise, both physical and mental, and unlike other tending is not intended for production of food or medicines.

Techniques often used include pruning, root reduction, potting, defoliation, and grafting to produce small trees that mimic the shape and style of mature, full-size trees.

When the bonsai nears its final size it is planted in a display pot and its growth is restricted by the pot environment.

Following World War II, a number of trends made the Japanese tradition of bonsai more and more accessible to Western and world audiences.

One key trend was the increase in the number, scope, and prominence of bonsai exhibitions.