Ji Lee's parallel universes on ceilings

Longtime BB readers may remember Ji Lee's fantastic 2005 "Bubble Project" where he stuck blank speech bubbles all over signs and billboards in NYC. Ji just emailed me about his fun new project:

People decorate their walls and floors, but most of them overlook their ceilings. It's such a waste of vast space. So I started to install miniature parallel worlds on the ceilings upon commission. It's fun to watch the reactions of people who after a while discover the parallel universe. They always smile. I think it makes their mind tickle.

I have installed skiing slopes, disaster scenes and art galleries. The theme of the scene is determined by the combination of the commissioner's interest, architectural elements of the ceiling and Ji Lee's suggestions.

Link

Previously on BB:
• Speech bubble sticker gallery Link

[#1 posted by XkrisCD , March 31, 2008 10:36 AM]

I love this! What a fantastic idea to create your own little world on a ceiling. The opportunity for self expression is so great it Boggles the mind. I'm so glad to have seen this. I have no doubt viewers smile when they encounter these little pieces, the thought of them makes me grin! Thanks BB!

[#2 posted by Jeff , March 31, 2008 10:46 AM]

For those of you who got to watch Canadian TV as a kid: I think I expect to see a Friendly Giant hanging upside down and arranging chairs. "And let's move the rocker over here for Cory." Kinda fun. I know my spiders would love this stuff!

[#3 posted by Talia , March 31, 2008 10:47 AM]

Ceiling Cat approves.

[#4 posted by the_niz , March 31, 2008 10:50 AM]

It's the tiny door that really makes it.

[#5 posted by cstatman , March 31, 2008 10:56 AM]

where is ceiling cat?

[#6 posted by Jake0748 , March 31, 2008 11:07 AM]

As a youngster I used to lie on the couch with my head hanging over the side and try to imagine what it would be like if there was furniture up there on the ceiling. I guess I wasn't the only one.

[#7 posted by elsmiley , March 31, 2008 11:17 AM]

Parallel worlds? You've got to be kidding. I guess you can just call creating miniatures and sticking them on the ceiling a "Parallel Universe" and everyone will accept it now. He's making doll furniture and gluing it to the ceiling. Nothing more. And there are plenty of people who create miniatures way better than he does.

[#8 posted by Jake0748 , March 31, 2008 11:31 AM]

OK, buzzkill.

[#9 posted by elsmiley , March 31, 2008 11:42 AM]

Ok, you're right, that was kind of buzzkill. But still. Fine art? Here's what miniature artwork is about. (Disclosure: Rik is my uncle) http://www.frogmorton.com/interiors.htm or http://www.frogmorton.com/hogwarts.htm.

[#10 posted by Talia , March 31, 2008 11:52 AM]

Regardless of whether it's "fine art," I would argue its still pretty neat.

[#11 posted by tikal2k , March 31, 2008 11:58 AM]

While the "creating miniatures" aspect is part of it, the bigger deal here (pun intended) is the concept.

What was that Yoko Ono piece that she did on the ceiling with the magnifying glass? It's like that.

Also, moar cieling cat pl0x

[#12 posted by Talia , March 31, 2008 12:07 PM]

Also,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/queensowntalia/ceiling.jpg

(no disrespect to the artist or photographer intended ; its crude, but that's MSpaint for you).

[#13 posted by Talia , March 31, 2008 12:10 PM]

Hmm. Darn you, finicky photobucket.

Let's try that again with proper capitalization.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/queensowntalia/Ceiling.jpg

[#14 posted by elsmiley , March 31, 2008 12:11 PM]

Well, if the concept is what is important here, the concept is very weak. I find it childish.

Agreed, tho, teh Ceiling Cat lieks teh ppl lots. No 2 ever diez no moar, k? Psst--djew 'ear tha'?

[#15 posted by ordodk , March 31, 2008 12:15 PM]

Ha! Reminds me of this http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=714-Ioa4XQw :)

[#16 posted by Talia , March 31, 2008 12:15 PM]

I guess its purely a matter of taste in that regard.. like most, if not all art. :) I find it not childish but imaginative and entertaining.

[#17 posted by Antinous , March 31, 2008 12:18 PM]

Talia,

Don't you mean, "Nooooo! They be finickin' mah fotobucket!"

[#18 posted by Talia , March 31, 2008 12:22 PM]

Antinous: haha, indeed :D

[#19 posted by Mark Hurst , March 31, 2008 12:24 PM]

Ji Lee's Bubble Project was excellent. Here's a video clip of Ji talking about it at my Gel conference in 2006.

[#20 posted by stratosfyr , March 31, 2008 1:45 PM]

I was trying to find a ceiling fixture a while ago, and I couldn't... so I was thinking of putting a table lamp on the ceiling (one with a finial, to keep the lampshade on).

I probably won't, if for no other reason than possible fire hazard, but the idea of a lamp upside-down on the ceiling amuses me.

[#21 posted by ZippySpincycle , March 31, 2008 2:05 PM]

So what happens if they install one of these at CERN?

[#22 posted by Deidzoeb , March 31, 2008 3:14 PM]

For tiny door fetishists, check out the "fairy doors" of Ann Arbor. About a dozen stores, homes and the library have tiny doors outside or inside for urban fairies.

http://www.urban-fairies.com/locationspages/locations.html

[#23 posted by netsharc , March 31, 2008 4:44 PM]

Aw, I was expecting the parallel universe to be a miniature version of the room that contains itself.. Still pretty neat.

Anyone for recursion?

[#24 posted by Stefan Jones , March 31, 2008 5:15 PM]

You know, it might be worth the risk of arrest and public humiliation to sneak into strangers' houses and install these while they're out.

At the very least, these should be installed and left behind in hotel rooms you visit.

[#25 posted by coffeebucket , April 1, 2008 4:17 AM]

A few years ago, myself and a coconspiritor took it upon ourselves to decorate a friend's "overlooked space."
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason_tan/sets/72157603656998217/

When the space's owner became aware of our accomplishments several years later, he wasn't as appreciative as we thought he might be (as you'll discover in the comments).