Many terrarium enthusiasts site their love of imagining themselves shrinking down like Alice in wonderland and exploring their own miniature landscapes. This escapism often leads to whimsical designs complete with toadstools, mock fairy doors and gnome clotheslines.
But what about the more sinister side of existing under glass? What if Sylvia Plath had decided to build a terrarium under her bell jar? I think the end result would land somehwere near Thomas Doyle's eerie terrarium dioramas at boingboing.net. The unsettling scenes of loss and danger are painstakingly arranged and often sealed under glass- illustrating the claustrophobic effect of the disasters in miniature.
Conversely, the private intensity of moments rendered in such a small scale draws the viewer in, allowing for the intimacy one might feel peering into a museum display case or dollhouse. Though surrounded by chaos, hazard, and longing, the figures’ faces betray little emotion, inviting viewers to lose themselves in these crucibles—and in the jumble of feelings and memories they elicit.
Thomas Doyle Diorama at boingboing.net
What fun, with a point.
ReplyDeletethanks for this - very interesting!
ReplyDeleteThis diorama art is a bit different from what I'm used to. I love it, though! Beautiful work!
ReplyDelete