Over the years running this little gallery of miniatures in KL, we have come across quite a number of misconceptions people have with our place. Seems like it will be quite interesting for us list some of those misconceptions and our thoughts on it.
- Firstly, MinNature Malaysia is often mistakenly referred to as a museum, when in fact it is a miniature gallery that showcases intricate and highly detailed miniature models of various Malaysian heritage buildings, miniature displays and dioramas. Unlike a museum, which typically houses historical artifacts and exhibits, MinNature Malaysia’s miniature models are crafted by our passionate artisans and aim to provide visitors with a unique and immersive experience that transports them to different places around Malaysia. One of the unique thing we have is the mini stories of Malaysia that we specially wrote to complement our miniatures displays.
- Secondly, contrary to popular belief, MinNature Malaysia was not designed exclusively for children. Although the gallery’s miniature models may appeal to children, the level of detail and craftsmanship that goes into each model makes it an equally fascinating and engaging experience for people of all ages. Over 95% of our visitors are actually adults; between the age of 20-45 years old.
- It is often mistakenly believed that all of the miniature models at MinNature Malaysia are 3D printed. However, this is not entirely true. While the buildings within the gallery are indeed 3D printed, this is primarily for the purpose of ensuring easy cleaning and maintenance. The majority of the miniature models on display are actually handmade and handcrafted by talented artisans, who painstakingly create each model with incredible attention to detail using clay, wood, resin, plastics, putty and all sorts of other materials. In fact, only around 2% of the miniature items you see inside the gallery are purchased off the shelves, while the rest are custom-made to achieve the desired level of quality and realism.
- Fourthly and one of the most frequent misconception is that MinNature Malaysia is backed by government grants and funds, but in reality, the gallery is 100% privately owned with no support from any government agencies. The initiative was started by the curator and funded by his five best friends and one brother, who used their hard-earned savings to bring the project to fruition. The aim of the gallery is to showcase the beauty and uniqueness of Malaysia to visitors, and it somehow became a popular hidden gem. Despite not receiving any government support, MinNature Malaysia has become a testament to the power of passion, dedication in creating something truly special and the public unconditional support on this initiative.
- Lastly, contrary to our visitors belief, the artisans at MinNature Malaysia were not classically trained in miniature art and sculpting. In fact, when the project was first started, neither the founder nor any of the other artisans had any prior experience or skill set in making miniatures, 3D design, 3D printing or miniature landscaping. As a result, they had to embark on a long journey of trial and error, testing new methods and experimenting with different materials in order to achieve the desired level of craftsmanship. While this process was undoubtedly challenging, it also allowed them to discover a lot of interesting combinations and effects that they now use in their miniature-making process.
We hope you enjoyed this list of top 5 misconceptions of our gallery.
