Maico Akiba's Sekai series depicts small green gardens on the backs and tops of miniature figures taken from the National Museum of Art and Design Tokyo's Souvenir From Tokyo shop. Inspired by the Japanese term for 'world,' he has applied the concept to his tiny projects.
Amongst the souvenirs used in Akiba's pieces are small elephants, horses, lambs, pandas and dinosaurs. A series of themes are present in each one as Akiba displayed telephone polls and images of cramped city living. In each case, the detailed scenes were made with acrylics, bringing forth bright earthy shades to followers of Akiba. Attached key chains have also been added, enabling buyers to easily tote the Sekai collection.
Miniature Garden Scenes
Maico Akiba's Sekai Series Depicts Greenery on Small Souvenirs
Trend Themes
1. Miniature Gardens - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new techniques to create intricate and realistic miniature gardens to cater to the growing demand for unique souvenirs.
2. Souvenir Design - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore innovative ways to incorporate miniature gardens into souvenirs, creating a new market segment for nature-inspired keepsakes.
3. Acrylic Artistry - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Experiment with acrylics and other materials to create visually stunning miniature scenes, attracting art enthusiasts looking for detailed and vibrant artwork.
Industry Implications
1. Souvenir Industry - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate miniature garden designs into the souvenir industry to offer unique and captivating keepsakes that stand out in the market.
2. Art Industry - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborate with artists to promote the use of acrylics and other materials in creating miniature garden scenes as a new form of artistic expression.
3. Home Decor Industry - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop miniature garden decor items that can be incorporated into interior design, providing customers with a unique way to bring nature indoors.