You probably remember balloon animals from kids' birthday parties and events. Maybe you've even made some yourself! But if you're like most people, your memory of balloon animals is probably that they're pretty simple and not very realistic. Sometimes it even takes a bit of squinting to figure out what it's supposed to be!
And then, there are the balloon animals of Masayoshi Matsumoto. It's not even fair to call them simply "balloon animals." They're really more like balloon sculptures and they're stunning.
Using nothing but ordinary balloons, Matsumoto twists, ties, weaves, and squishes his animals into being with remarkable detail. And it's not just animals; he also creates some incredible balloon plants.
Balloons are usually only thought of as party decor, but it turns out they're pretty versatile, especially if you're willing to get creative, like if you want to give yourself some cute curls without weighing down your head with traditional rollers.
But Matsumoto brings balloons to a whole new level. Check them out below and see just how amazing these can get!
[H/T: BoredPanda]
Using nothing but regular balloons in various shapes, artist Masayoshi Matsumoto can create just about any animal or plant.
He's even developed a way to get the balloons to curve, like this kitty's tail.
By inflating the balloons with differing amounts of air, Matsumoto can control not only their size, but also how flexible and bendable they are.
And as a result, he can get a surprising number of shapes.
Beats the average birthday party trick, doesn't it?
And thanks to specialty stores, he can get balloons in pretty much any color.
And somehow, because they're balloons, even animals considered less than cute, like this crab, are suddenly adorable.
And each sculpture in entirely made of balloon. There's no frame or foundation underneath.
The animals are created only by twisting, bending, and folding the balloons.
Which also means that they're incredibly light!
In the case of this bird, even the branch is a super long balloon!
Sometimes, he doesn't even inflate the balloons. This hermit crab's antennae are created from un-inflated balloons.
Matsumoto also likes to experiment with mythical creatures, too, like this phoenix.
And creatures that no longer roam the Earth, like this triceratops.
He's also fascinated with insects and sea life, and something about their segmented bodies really translates well into balloons.
He's also created a few plants, like this lily of the valley.
You can see many more of Matsumoto's creations on Tumblr and Facebook, and if you'd like to try this yourself, you can even check out some of his tutorials on his website, but you'll have to translate the page.
And SHARE this fantastic art with anyone who loves art in unexpected places!
