Beauty in Miniature

Have you heard of Mambonsai? Simply put, the stage is set with a plant and a pot, then the drama unfolds with the placement of small figurines. Mambonsai posses a drive for humor and a humanistic touch giving it a lighter feel from traditional bonsai. Invented by Mambonsai master
Paradise Yamamoto, this simple combining of plant and figurines has quickly grown into a popular hobby amongst all ages, with fans growing in Japan and throughout the world. Like England’s doll house culture, Japan has long held a love for the miniature, such as bonsai, model trains, plastic models, and miniature gardening. A concept expressed in the word 数寄 (suki) in Japanese, the attempt to create within one’s reach a miniature utopia brings a richness to everyday life.

We hope this exhibit will plant a seed of the Mambonsai spirit in all who come and visit.

About the Artist

Paradise Yamamoto

Mambonsai Horticulturalist

A former car designer, Paradise Yamamoto is a hyper-creator: a mambo musician, mambonsai master, bath salts sommelier, gyoza dumpling king, as well as a Santa Claus accredited by Greenland’s The International Association of Authorized Santa Claus. His “Aaah-ooh” shout taught by the Mambo King Perez Prado is used in many songs and commercials.

Born in Sapporo, Hokkaido in 1962, Paradise graduated from Industrial Design Course of Nihon University College of Art. He then worked at the Subaru Design Center, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., and was involved in designing the first Legacy and SVX. In 1983, he made his debut with the album called “Mambo Tengoku” with Tokyo Panorama Mambo Boys and then formed “Paradise Yamamoto and his Tokyo Latin Mood Deluxe”, appearing on the mid-night TV program “Latin Senka” on Fuji Television. He has held mambonsai exhibitions in London, Los Angeles, and also at the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Nimes in France. In 2008 he made his debut as a director with the movie “Bonsai Girl”.

About ICN Gallery

Located in Shoreditch, London. Grand Opening: 2011 September
Gallery Concept: To introduce new works which use Japanese culture and sensibilities as their base.

• Exhibitions with Japanese and other Asian artists
• Sale of works
• Sale of original merchandise by artists

Find out more at www.icn-global.com

About pixiv

Japan's latest net community emerging from enthusiast from the Internet era, digital native generation and Japan’s Otaku Culture. Pixiv is Japan's largest illustration communication social network site and has in just 3 and a half years grown to have 3 million accounts and over 19 million illustrations. In just an average day they have over 24,000 illustrations uploaded and per month average 1.5 billion page views (as of May 2011).

About ICN gallery

Focusing on contemporary Japanese culture, ICN gallery will have its grand opening in Shoreditch, London on September 8th. 

ICN gallery: 96-98 Leonard Street, City of London EC2A 4RH