< Miniature Life ・ Mitate Mind Review > Inside Tatsuya Tanaka’s Witty and Surprising World

In Tatsuya Tanaka’s wonderful imagination, there’s a witty world where enoki mushrooms become chef hats, ramen noodles are slept on, and open heart surgery is performed on the Jack of Spades.It’s a world I loved visiting. And I just know you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

The world premiere of Miniature Life • Mitate Mind in Seoul is on until June 10th, 2024 at the MPX Gallery in Yeouido. Don’t miss it!

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< Miniature Life · Mitate Mind > Quick Guide

World Premiere of Miniature Life ・ Mitate Mind in Seoul

Miniature Life · Mitiate Mind is the global debut of renowned Japanese miniature artist and photographer, Tatsuya Tanaka’s newest series of works.

At the exhibit, there are 200 perspective altering pieces that encourage you to observe the world with fresh eyes.

Structured around the themes of Form, Color, Scale, Motion, Life, and World – you’ll find something unique and interesting in every single room. We did.

With 52 all-new miniatures, as well as photographs, videos, and large-scale works, you can’t help but be filled with wonder as everyday objects are transformed into surprising pieces of art. It’s clever, whimsical, and just plain fun.

Mitate Mind has been an incredibly popular exhibit in Seoul since it opened, with waits to enter as long as 3 to 4 hours, so make sure to grab tickets and go – before it moves on to Tokyo for its next run.

What is Mitate?

Tatsuya Tanaka says, “Mitate means, using one object to depict or impersonate another. Ultimately leading to making the right choice.”

In a more general sense, mitate | 見立 (pronounced me-tah-tay) is a Japanese word that means “to look again,” or a “new point of view.”

It’s the ability to see familiar things in fresh and surprising ways. Mitate adds layers of meaning to commonplace items, and transforms the way we see life, our relationships, and the different meanings we ascribe to them.

Who is Tatsuya Tanaka?

Born in 1981 in Kumamoto, Japan, Tatsuya Tanaka’s nimble and inventive miniatures challenge us to look at everyday objects in new and fresh ways. Our imagination provoked – what was once mundane, becomes remarkable.

In 2011, Tatsuya Tanaka started creating, photographing, and sharing playful miniatures in mitate style. Through his limitless creativity and sense of play, contact lenses become umbrellas, and an iPhone, an airplane.

He invites us along by sharing these re-imagined pocket-sized worlds EVERY SINGLE DAY on Miniature Calendar, and on social media, where he’s amassed a huge global following of 3.8-million (and counting) on Instagram alone.

I wasn’t following Tatsuya Tanaka when I went to Mitate Mind, but I am now… and was surprised to find several of my friends already were. No wonder the exhibit was popular from the day it opened.

Is it Worth Going to Miniature Life · Mitate Mind?

I can’t remember the last time I went to an art exhibit and was completely engaged, on every level. Aside from the incredibly clever miniature landscapes and dioramas, my brain was tickled by the titles of the art pieces themselves.

I’m obviously a lover of words (hence this blog), and there were several times, I laughed out loud at the total tongue-in-cheek titles of Tanaka’s individual works. His Mitate Mind seems to stretch not just to sculptures and photos, but also to words.

Appealing to all ages and walks of life, Miniature Life, Mitate Mind is an exhibit you’ll thoroughly enjoy. You won’t regret going.

< MITATE MIND > TICKETS  |  Tatsuya Tanaka’s Miniature Life · Mitate Mind exhibit is on in Seoul until June 10th, 2024. Online tickets are exchanged for a physical ticket using a QR code that’s sent to you when you book. Get full details here.

Is Mitate Mind in Seoul good for kids?

What kid doesn’t love miniature things? Simply put – this is a fantastic exhibit to attend with littles.

I think my daughter and her friend loved it even more than we did. They spent 2 hours running excitedly from piece to piece, examining the works, without complaining or uttering the words “I’m bored,” once!

There’s no minimum age requirement to attend Mitate Mind, but you ARE responsible for any damages, so i’d keep a close eye on your kids – particularly if they’re younger.

Exhibit boxes aren’t fixed to the floor, so if they get knocked or pushed, there could definitely be potential damage to the artworks.

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What is the Entry Process for Mitate Mind in Seoul?

Granted it was a Saturday afternoon when we went to Mitate Mind, but I was honestly surprised by the insane line-up, and crowds of people outside MPX Gallery. I was definitely not expecting that! Now that I’ve seen the Mitate Mind exhibit myself, I GET IT… but still.

Unless you show up right at opening, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to enter the exhibition venue directly upon arrival.

When we got to MPX Gallery, we were given a queueing number of 289. 289!! and told it could take 3 to 4 hours to gain entry into the Mitate Mind exhibit. Believe it… because I lived it.

Because of its hyper-popularity – the entry process is a little complicated in order to deal with the high numbers of people attending all at once. They understandably limit numbers inside the exhibition space.

It can be a little confusing, if you’re not used to this type of Korean queueing system, so I’ll try to explain step by step.

1. When you arrive at MPX Gallery, look for the line of people ACROSS from the box-office. This is the line for getting a entry number.

2. Registration is with a phone number, and you’ll get live updates this way. I’m not 100% sure what happens if you don’t have a Korean phone number, but my guess is they’ll have some kind of fail-safe for this possiblity, given that many travelers would be interested in this exhibit.

3. MPX Gallery is on the same floor (L3) as the food court, and there’s shopping and cafes in IFC Mall too, so it’s not hard to pass the time.

4. Once notified that your number is up, head back to MPX Gallery to redeem your mobile voucher (it’s a QR code) for physical tickets.

5. They’re not super strict about the timing – you won’t be turned away if it takes a bit of time to get back to the Mitate Mind exhibit from wherever you are in IFC Mall. We were actually mid-Panda Express dinner, when we were notified, and took about 20 minutes to get back.

6. It’s possible to buy tickets at the box office on-site, but I didn’t see a single person that hadn’t pre-booked.

7. You can take as many photos with your phone as you want, but no DSLRs are allowed inside.

How to get to MPX Gallery?

Address: 10, International Finance Street, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (IFC Mall South Atrium, L3) | 서울 영등포구 국제금융로 10 (여의도동, 서울 국제금융 센터)

Mitate Mind in Seoul is being held at MPX Gallery, which is inside IFC Mall in Yeouido. The closest subway station is Yeouido Station on Line 9.

Once you arrive at the station, take exit 3, and make a right turn at the 7-11 convenience store. Walk straight about 400-metres, until you see the IFC Towers on the left hand side. You can’t miss them.

It’s a bit confusing once inside IFC Mall, because the floors feel like they’re numbered upside down. At least they did to me. All you need to know to successfully navigate your way to Mitate Mind at MPX Gallery, is that L3 is the bottom level of the mall, NOT the top.

< MITATE MIND > TICKETS  |  Trust me. Just go! Read reviews and get full details here.

More Fun Things to do in Yeouido

Yeouido District is located on the west side of Seoul. This is a little ways out from popular central areas like Myeongdong and Jongno, so it’s great to plan a few other activities to do at the same time.

Fortunately, there are some attractions in Yeouido that are definitely worth checking out!

Eland Han River Cruise | 여의도 이랜드크루즈

Address: 280 Yeouidae-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul | 서울 영등포구 여의동로 280

• A Han River cruise is a must-do in Seoul, and the dock is at Yeouido Hangang Park.
• Choose from afternoon tea cruises to buffet combo cruises to cruises that run during the famous Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain show,
• If you’ve purchased the Discover Seoul Pass, the eLand cruise is one of the included attractions.
• Otherwise, check out all the different eLand Cruise options here.

Zoolung Zoolung | 주렁주렁

Address: 4th Floor, Times Square, 15 Youngjung-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul | 서울 영등포구 영중로 15 타임스퀘어 4층매표소, 5층입구

• huge indoor animal theme park with more than 50 different species from Africa and the Amazon
• opportunity to interact with and feed different animals
• located inside Times Square Mall, with ample opportunities for shopping, as well as cafes and restaurants on-site
• Pick up discounted tickets here.

63 Square | 63스퀘어: 63 ART and AQUAPLANET 63

Address: 50, 63-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 영등포구 63로 36

• Iconic building in Yeouido, with an art hall, observatory, and aquarium all in one
• See amazing views and admire artworks at 63 Art
• Explore the underwater world and a live mermaid show at Aquaplanet 63
• Grab a combo ticket, or bundle it with other popular attractions, like Lotte World Adventure and Nami Island with a Klook Pass

The Hyundai Seoul | 현대백화점 더현대 서울

Address: 108 Yeouidae-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul | 서울 영등포구 여의대로 108

• The Hyundai Seoul’s claim to fame is that it’s the largest shopping mall in the city. It’s truly massive, with enough square footage to cover 13 full football fields!
• There’s more than just shopping here, with nearly 50% of the mall dedicated to recreational areas, including a waterfall and green spaces.
• The Hyundai Seoul is directly connected to IFC Mall through a pedestrian tunnel, so it’s super easy to visit before or after seeing the Mitate Mind exhibit at MPX Gallery.

After its world premiere in Seoul, Mitate Mind moves to Tokyo in August. Watch out for it where you live!