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Japanese Artist Creates Unbelievable Balloon Sculptures That Resemble Real Animals And Insects (30 New Pics)
Art & DesignMAY 15, 2020

Japanese Artist Creates Unbelievable Balloon Sculptures That Resemble Real Animals And Insects (30 New Pics)

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We tend to think of balloons as a b-day prop, which is fun till you turn 13. With childhood behind, these are just inflated pieces of air that sit in the attic waiting for a hero to escort them to a recycled heaven.
But the Japanese artist Masayoshi Matsumoto is proving us all wrong. This guy has been turning balloons into intricate sculptures for a decade now, proving such an unusual medium can create wonders. Every piece, which takes two to six hours to make, is made entirely from balloons with no markers, stickers or tapes allowed in the game.
Let’s take a look at some of the most mesmerizing inflated animals and insects below. After you’re done with this post, be sure to check out some more of Matsumoto’s creations in our part 1, part 2, and part 3. If you dream of picking up a needle and popping a balloon or two tonight, you’ll know why. And we can’t judge.
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#1 Green Bottle Fly

Green Bottle Fly
95points

#2 Sloth

Sloth
88points

#3 Quetzal

Quetzal
81points

Bored Panda contacted Masayoshi Matsumoto to find out more about his unique balloon artworks. The 31-year-old from Kanagawa, Japan graduated from engineering at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, where he received a master’s degree in 2014.

The artist has been working on this project that he calls “realistic balloon art” for more than a decade. “I started making balloon art when I was in the juggling club 12 years ago,” he told us.

Masayoshi has been drawn to animals and insects since he was a kid. “I've liked animals since I was a child, so I mostly make art with animal themes,” he said. “As a child, I kept insects as pets, so I have an emotional attachment to my insect-themed artworks.”

#4 Beaver

Beaver
78points

#5 Ostrich

Ostrich
77points

#6 Redback Spider

Redback Spider
75points

Every balloon creature takes from 3 to 6 hours to make. Masayoshi told us that he has always been inspired by wildlife pictures. “I wanted to see if I could possibly create realistic animals of my own using nothing but balloon material.”

#7 Chinchilla

Chinchilla
75points

#8 Bush Cricket

Bush Cricket
74points

#9 Ring-Tailed Lemur

Ring-Tailed Lemur
69points

#10 Seahorse

Seahorse
69points

#11 Oarfish

Oarfish
67points

#12 Pond Snail

Pond Snail
66points

#13 Guinea Pig

Guinea Pig
65points

#14 Kiwi

Kiwi
63points

#15 Stork

Stork
60points

#16 Rose-Ringed Parakeet

Rose-Ringed Parakeet
58points

#17 Pitcher Plant

Pitcher Plant
56points

#18 Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish
56points

#19 Leucochloridium

Leucochloridium
55points

#20 Eagle

Eagle
53points
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