The miniature architectural world created by Charles Young unfolds as an intricate exploration of scale, rhythm, and color, where each structure becomes both an object and an idea. Working primarily with paper, the artist constructs a growing city composed of countless buildings that echo real architectural typologies while maintaining a distinctly imagined character. These pieces often function as three-dimensional studies in color relationships, revealing a meticulous sensitivity to tonal harmony and visual balance.
A defining aspect of his practice lies in the discipline of repetition and continuity. The long-term development of his miniature metropolis stems from a daily commitment to making, a process that began as a year-long challenge and evolved into an expansive body of work with hundreds of individual structures. Each model is crafted using simple materials like watercolor paper and glue, yet the results demonstrate remarkable structural complexity, sometimes incorporating movement and animation to extend their presence beyond static form. This ongoing accumulation transforms the work into a living system, where architecture becomes narrative through persistence and variation.
Color operates not merely as decoration but as a conceptual framework guiding the entire project. Inspired by historical color studies, particularly structured combinations, Young systematically translates palettes into built form, allowing chromatic decisions to shape architectural identity. The outcome is a city that feels both analytical and playful, where strict constraints generate unexpected diversity. Beyond paper, his exploration of form expands into materials like wood and woven cane, reinforcing an ongoing investigation into how structures can exist across mediums while preserving a coherent visual language.
More info: Website, Instagram — (h/t: Colossal).
in Bahia.