Gallery of fantastic creatures
Gensou Hyouhon Hakubutsukan (”Museum of Fantastic Specimens”) is an online collection of creatures “curated” by Hajime Emoto. The three-story virtual museum consists of 9 rooms chock full of water- and land-dwelling monstrosities from all corners of the globe. (Navigating the virtual museum may be a bit difficult if you cannot read Japanese, so try the links below if you get lost.)
- 1st Floor: Room 1, Room 2, Room 3
- 2nd Floor: Room 4, Room 5, Room 6, Room 7
Each specimen has a clickable thumbnail that links to additional photos and historical and background information (in Japanese). The basement contains a bookshop and a cafeteria serving dishes prepared with some of the beasts featured in the museum (such as umiushi sashimi, served fresh from the tank and wriggling on your plate, with a balsamic vinegar sauce).
All of the creatures showcased in the museum are sculpted from paper, modeling paste and bamboo and are completely imaginary, claims Emoto — perhaps a disappointment for hunters of the legendary tsuchinoko (center photo above) in search of an actual specimen, but an amazing collection of critters nonetheless.
[Link: Museum of Fantastic Specimens]
Gorgeous work. Does Emoto have a book out? The last book listed on the shop page at Aoki Gallery looks like it might be of his sculptures. Maybe someone who reads Japanese can confirm for me.
http://www2.tky.3web.ne.jp/~aokigaro/
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Arjay: The book on Aoki Gallery’s “Shop” page is Emoto’s. That book, plus another, is also on sale in the Public Relations Office of his museum (located in the basement). Click on the images of the books to go to Amazon Japan. They are priced at just over 2,000 yen (around US$20).
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Great find, thanks.
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Greetings,
Hajime Emoto is a fantastic artist. I also create similar creatures but I use authentic fish and animal skins, bones and teeth. I would love to contact Mr. Emoto since we share the love of strange creatures.
Best regards, Juan Cabana ( Tampa Florida USA )
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http://www.thefeejeemermaid.com/
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no Amazonas apareceu uma criatura muito estranha gostaria que vocês a procurasem para informar mais sobre ele.
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Put more pictures on and give more description
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Are any for sale? I wanta a dragon…
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i am at the state of ecstasy
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Hajime Emoto! This guy is awesome! The only thing that could make what he’s doing any more wild, is if he brought these things to a “living form” But damn! I’ve been doing art since the day I was born (Yes I can prove that!) & I still can’t do what this guy does!
Much love from CSOTYS & NuclearLullaby!
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