Miniature Wonders Art Gallery, Ipoh

Miniature Wonders Art Gallery, Ipoh (19 October, 2018)

Miniature Wonders Art Gallery (GPS: 4.59589, 101.0783) is a specialty art gallery in Ipoh, Perak. Located on Jalan Market, it showcases the wonders of miniature art. This is presented in the form of dioramas as well as minute artwork within walnut shells. The gallery opened in November 2017.

Up until my visit to Miniature Wonders Art Gallery, my experience of such wonders has been limited to the museums in Penang, among them the Made In Penang Interactive Museum and Wonderfood Museum, both of which also showcase miniature art. Miniature Wonders Art Gallery occupies the two floors of a shophouse. It was my great joy to discover a gallery that is entirely devoted to miniature art.

The amount of detail at every street and every street corner is mersmerising - I could spend hours simply staring and admiring. There's miniatures of people crossing a bridge, two friends sitting by the riverbank, hawkers selling noodles, coolies pulling carts, merchant ships sailing down a murky river - there was so much to see.

There are three main dioramas. They depict medieval street scene, a harbour scene and the making of terracotta warriors. In addition, there are also a series on imperial banquets during various dynasties.

My wife and I at the Miniature Wonders Art Gallery, Ipoh (19 October, 2018)

What I am showing you here barely scratches the surface - there's so much to see!

Once Upon A Time in Old Beijing

The highlight of the ground floor is a street scene from medieval China. I am told that this is supposed to depict Beijing, probably a scene from one of its hutongs. The architectural style of the buildings here reminds me of those at Huanglongxi which I visited many years ago.

Once Upon A Time In Old Beijing @ Miniature Wonders Art Gallery, Ipoh (19 October, 2018)

Song Dynasty Imperial Banquet

Aside from the main diorama, there are also additional dioramas by the side. They depict scenes from an imperial banquet (title Song Palace Banquet), a Mongol wrestling tournament, a Qin Dynasty Royal Banquet, and so on.

Song Dynasty Imperial Banquet @ Miniature Wonders Art Gallery, Ipoh (19 October, 2018)

The Making of the Terracotta Warriors

Upstairs there's more to see. Arrayed in two rows are two equally impressive main dioramas with a number of side dioramas. The first depicts the making of the Terracotta Warriors. It takes visitors through the steps where the life-size figurines are made, right up to the imperial tomb where they are positioned.

The Making of the Terracotta Warriors @ Miniature Wonders Art Gallery, Ipoh (19 October, 2018)

Qin Dynasty Imperial Banquet

Qin Dynasty Imperial Banquet @ Miniature Wonders Art Gallery, Ipoh (19 October, 2018)

Tang Dynasty Imperial Banquet

Beside the Terracotta Warriors diorama is a scene from the Tang Dynasty Imperial Banquet. There were dancing girls flanked on both sides by the seated guests enjoying the feast, while the Emperor is seated in a raised dais surrounded by his attendants. Sentries are posted at the grand staircase leading up to the banquet hall.

Tang Dynasty Imperial Banquet @ Miniature Wonders Art Gallery, Ipoh (19 October, 2018)

Yuan Dynasty Imperial Banquet

Yuan Dynasty Imperial Banquet @ Miniature Wonders Art Gallery, Ipoh (19 October, 2018)

Harbour Scene

On top of displaying the miniatures, the gallery also has a gift section where visitors can purchase miniatures to bring home.

Harbour Scene @ Miniature Wonders Art Gallery, Ipoh (19 October, 2018)

Address

Miniature Wonders Art Gallery
49, Jalan Market,
30000 Ipoh, Perak.

Miniature Wonders Art Gallery is open daily from 8:30am to 6:00pm. For further information, contact Mr Phoon Lek Kuin, 018 579 0492. Admission is free downstairs and RM5 per person (as of Oct 2018) for the upstairs gallery.