Miniature marvels

Hobbyist artist Rajesh Jaopal has transformed wood, household items and other materials into stunning miniatures of the globe’s well-known landmarks.

“Although I have not yet been able to visit the world’s major sights, I am able to create them by hand and bring them into my own home,” said the 35-year-old Indian expatriate.

Detailed models of the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben and the Notre Dame Cathedral, which Rajesh made using hundreds of matchsticks, were featured in the GDN in 2015. 

Since then, the craft-lover has expanded his range of materials and went on make more impressive creations such as miniatures of the Taj Mahal and the Clock Roundabout in Riffa.

“I constantly collect materials like cardboard and wood scraps and pallets from furniture shops so that I can eventually re-purpose them into a model,” added the Salmaniya resident.  “That way, both materials and money are not wasted.

Beside reclaimed items, Rajesh still uses matchsticks along with other inexpensive materials available in supermarkets including popsicle sticks, wooden coffee stirrers and chopsticks.

To make the main parts of the Taj Mahal, he used cardboard covered with wood-textured tape, different kinds of sticks for the windows and trim, carved wood for the spires and foam for the domes.

The mini-mausoleum was built in 1:400 scale, shrunk 400 times from the original size of the Indian world-wonder.

According to the artist, the model is much lighter than it looks—only half-a-kilogramme—due to its mostly paper-based structure.

The father-of-two had constructed the mini-mausoleum as a present for his wife Sharmila, who Rajesh said was surprised and overjoyed by the gift.

“My wife was shocked by the model because she had no idea I was building it,” said Rajesh, who pursues his hobby in his free time when he is not at his job as a car spare-parts specialist. “I made it over the course of a few months.”

As for the Clock Roundabout, Rajesh said that he wanted to recreate it because he passes by it often.

He creatively made use of a disused hand watch, placing it in the model as one of the iconic tower’s four clock faces.

He also created a model for a friend’s dream home based on design plans, following the example of what architects did before three-dimensional modelling was invented. 

His other artistic endeavours include watercolour murals, decorative lamp covers and a wooden swing for his five-year-old daughter Rakshitha made out of wooden pallets.

“Crafting relaxes my mind and brings me inner peace,” he added. “I have always liked doing artistic things.”

The self-taught artist from Tamil Nadu said that his passion for wooden models came from watching his father, a furniture builder, working creatively.

Rajesh said that his pieces are up for grabs if requested but that he mainly enjoys crafting as a non-commercial hobby as it brings him fulfillment.