Artist Creates Miniature Sculptures of the Gritty Urban Architecture in Taiwan

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Miniaturist Joshua Smith is back with a new scale model full of the urban grit we've come to know him for. After his recent work—a scale model of building in Kowloon—he's turned his attention to Taiwan. This tall, slender building is a replica of a Locksmith shop in Kaohsiung, and Smith has spared no detail in bringing the model to life.

Built from scratch on a 1:18 scale, the structure even lights up—taking the mood from daytime metropolis to evening urban grit. Smith is constantly innovating for his work—in this case using the plastic from a ballpoint pen to create overhead lighting that flickers. Graffiti tags splash across the metal shutters and a lone motorbike outside gives a mood of quiet isolation.

Since he started focusing his work on scale models in 2015, Smith has continually cultivated his craft by meticulously recreating the urban landscape. Fascinated by the grime, rust, and decay of city life, he infuses each project with a unique character that brings the miniatures to life beyond their shape and form.

Smith's newest miniature will be on display from November 10, 2017, at the Arcade Art Gallery in Taiwan as part of the group exhibition When the Sun Goes Down.

Miniaturist Joshua Smith is a master of recreating the urban landscape through scale models.

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The model—which depicts a Locksmith shop in Taiwan—even lights up for an even mood.

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Joshua Smith: Website | Facebook | Instagram

All images by Ben Neale. My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Joshua Smith.

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Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Staff Editor and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book "Street Art Stories Roma" and most recently contributed to "Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini." You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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