WHAT IS DIORAMA?

The term “diorama” originated in 1823 as a type of image viewing device, introduced by the French in 1822. It literally means “through what is seen,” derived from the Greek di- (“through”) and orama (“something seen, a spectacle”). Dioramas were invented by Louis Daguerre and Charles Marie Bouton and were first exhibited in Paris in July 1822 and later at The Diorama, Regent’s Park, on September 29, 1823. The meaning of a “small-scale replica of a scene, etc.” dates back to 1902.

Today, the common understanding of the term “diorama” refers to a three-dimensional replica, either life-sized or a scaled-down model, often depicting historical events, natural scenes, or urban landscapes for educational or entertainment purposes. One of the first uses of dioramas in museums was in Stockholm, Sweden, where the Biological Museum opened in 1893 with several dioramas spread over three floors, created by Grigore.

In terms of etymology, the word diorama was coined by Louis Daguerre and his collaborator Charles Marie Bouton in 1822. At that time, Daguerre was designing backdrops for the Paris Opera, famous for his sunrise and sunset effect settings. Initially, the term diorama referred to grand theatrical sets (some even rotating with multiple layers). Over time, dioramas entered museums, simulating real-life sceneries on a large scale to attract visitors.

Gradually, the meaning of diorama expanded. Nowadays, when asked “What is a diorama?”, people often think of a combination of models recreating either real or imagined landscapes. In Vietnam, a term that closely resembles diorama and is most commonly used is “sa bàn” (scaled models). You could call an architectural diorama “sa bàn kiến trúc” or a military diorama.

The original diorama referred to tables covered in sand, recreating terrain for educational and research purposes by the ancient Greeks. This technique was later used extensively in warfare as a 3D map of battlefields to help visualize military tactics. Over time, the meaning of “sa bàn” in Vietnam has evolved and broadened, similar to “diorama,” no longer limited to sand-covered tables.

Creating simulated settings is not new and has existed in many cultures long before the term “diorama” was coined. For example, the Japanese art of bonkei and bonsai from the 6th century is a similar practice. People would plant ornamental trees in small pots but style them to look like full-grown trees, complete with grass mats and miniature characters.

It’s important to note that diorama does not necessarily mean creating a scaled-down version of the real scene. You can design it to any scale you like, even larger than life, and it would still be considered a diorama. In short, a diorama or “sa bàn” refers to works of art that recreate a scene or moment through the arrangement of multiple interacting smaller models.

Dioramas are especially popular among model train and military model enthusiasts. It would be quite boring for expensive model trains to simply run around in a dull, empty space. Instead, they can pass through streams, run alongside rivers, or cut through mountains under canopies of trees. Some model train dioramas are as large as an entire room, showcasing the grandeur of nature. Military dioramas, on the other hand, are an excellent way to depict historical events and war scenes, bringing these models to life.

The diorama hobby has become more popular thanks to an increasing variety of materials and tools, as well as the abundance of tutorials that are now easy to access. Many Gundam enthusiasts also create dioramas for their models after assembling and customizing them. As Gundams are originally defined as war machines, they fit perfectly into military dioramas, often depicting scenes of destruction, explosions, and devastation. However, dioramas are not limited to natural landscapes or buildings; model enthusiasts can create whatever scenes they imagine. This could be everyday life, a fantasy world from video games, simple dirt-covered terrain, or complex urban landscapes.

Dioramas can be incredibly simple, made out of paper by cutting shapes and sticking them to the background and ground. They can also be extremely detailed, to the point where, in photos, it’s hard to distinguish the real scene from the diorama. Many movies even use dioramas for filming.

Through long-term development by model enthusiasts, backstage artists, and architects, diorama-making techniques have become highly diverse, allowing for the recreation of almost any environment. You can easily search on YouTube or Google for diorama tutorials, from basic to advanced levels, or read books to learn about creating dioramas, which can be very helpful.

Everything around you can become material for creating a diorama—it’s all about your creativity. People can repurpose old bottles or containers to turn them into buildings, or use faux fur to make grass. If you’re creating natural or urban scenes, commonly used materials include plaster, foam, clay, dried branches, and scrap paper. You can also purchase specialized materials like model tree trunks, sand powders, color pigments, leaf powders, sea effect liquids, wave effects, grass layering machines, and more. Many companies are now offering specialized materials and tools dedicated to this hobby.