When we think of miniature art, the first thing that comes to mind is dollhouses, meant to be admired or played with. But Joshua Smith’s sculptures don’t subscribe to the kitsch/cutesy aesthetic that’s come to be identified with miniature art. Rather, Smith’s miniatures are dedicated to portraying urban decay: anything from miniature dumpsters to storefronts sprayed with graffiti.
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The result is anything but cute. “I like making things which look realistic and I like to play with perspective,” explained Smith in an interview with The Daily Miniature. “It’s funny when I take photos of my miniatures… people think that it is something that is actual real life scale but then when I take a photo of something in real life, they are wondering if it is miniature! I like messing around with that and it is something that I really enjoy doing.”
Based in Norwood, South Australia, Smith’s work has been showcased in over 100 exhibitions in cities like London, Paris, Berlin, New York, and Hong Kong. Created in 1:20 scale, his creations depict the overlooked aspects of modern-day living – the price of overconsumption and overall neglect.
But like most miniature artists, Smith’s fascination with this form of art began when he was a small boy. “I have been fascinated with miniatures and modelmaking ever since I was little and can remember making miniature things out of cardboard boxes ever since I was very young,” he says. “The interest stems from building model kits when I was a kid and I have always been fascinated with miniature scenes from model railroads.”
