Artist Handcrafts Tiny Floating Islands With Enchanting Little Houses Embedded in Them

Micro Matter by Rosa de Jong

Amsterdam-based artist Rosa de Jong creates fantastical miniature landscapes that appear to float in mid-air. Her series, titled Micro Matter, sees found wood repurposed as rugged terrain, where trees and moss grow around jumbles of houses that are precariously placed on steep hillsides.

Although de Jong’s sculptures look otherworldly, they still hold a certain earthly familiarity. She finds her natural materials all over the world. In one piece, De Jong uses a piece of wood from the Hoh Rainforest in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, and in another, she uses old tree bark found in Florida. She then adds her handmade miniature houses crafted from paper and cardboard, as well as faux foliage—or as she calls it, “green stuff.” Finally, de Jong uses thread to delicately attach each piece to a wooden frame, handcrafted by her father.

De Jong’s Micro Matter series sparks the imagination and makes you wonder who or what lives within these tiny landscapes. Each piece looks like a little ecosystem floating in space, suspended within frames or housed within giant glass tubes that ready to be studied. You can almost imagine minuscule forms of life peeping out from the trees or climbing up to the miniature hillside towns.

Check out de Jong’s Micro Matter series below and find more miniature landscapes on her website.

Rosa de Jong creates vertical miniature landscapes that appear to float in mid-air.

Miniature Landscapes by Rosa de Jong

Each piece of wood is sourced from various forests around the world.

Micro Matter by Rosa de Jong

Miniature Landscapes by Rosa de Jong

Miniature Landscapes by Rosa de Jong

She uses thread to delicately frame each little ecosystem.

Miniature Landscapes by Rosa de Jong

Micro Matter by Rosa de Jong
Micro Matter by Rosa de Jong

Others are housed within glass tubes.

Micro Matter by Rosa de Jong

Miniature Landscapes by Rosa de Jong

Micro Matter by Rosa de Jong

Micro Matter by Rosa de Jong

Rosa de Jong: Website | Instagram |Behance

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Rosa de Jong.

Related Articles:

Artist Encases Incredibly Detailed Miniature Worlds Inside Antique Pocket Watches

Ethereal Rings Reveal Tiny Landscapes That Encapsulate the Beauty of Seasons in Resin

Miniature Worlds Emerge On Top of Wooden Animals

Artist Paints Exquisite Miniature Landscapes Based on Bike Routes She’s Traveled

Emma Taggart

Emma Taggart is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. Originally from Northern Ireland, she is an artist now based in Berlin. After graduating with a BA in Fashion and Textile Design in 2013, Emma decided to combine her love of art with her passion for writing. Emma has contributed to various art and culture publications, with an aim to promote and share the work of inspiring modern creatives. While she writes every day, she’s also devoted to her own creative outlet—Emma hand-draws illustrations and is currently learning 2D animation.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits

Sponsored Content