Black Canvas Scape's terrariums provide a miniature live rainforest environment in a see-through case, allowing you to enjoy a little piece of nature without having to go outside. Mysterious, calm and beautifully presented, these terrariums are nothing like a normal house plant you've seen before and it's no surprise that they have been the rising favourite for green thumbers as of late. "My aim is to capture the wilderness of nature and fitting it into a tiny glass enclosure," explained Ming Shern, the custom terrarium builder behind the brand. Below, we speak to him on his roots, the charms of nature and more.
How did Black Canvas Scapes come about?
I’ve always been very fascinated by the structural formation of the forest, for example how the roots of trees grow and cover the forest bed creating really artistic textures and shapes; basically, everything starting from the forest bed up to the canopy is a piece of art!
Therefore since young, I’ve always been growing plants in a different way rather than just planting in a pot, and eventually, I stumbled upon terrariums. They were cool because I found that my ideas of mimicking the forest could be applied to a terrarium but in a miniature living capsule! I had so many ideas that I wanted to materialize and I ended up producing so many terrariums that I figured I shouldn’t be just stockpiling them but sharing them out there with people who could appreciate them too, hence Black Canvas Scapes was founded.
Please share what has been the brand's most admirable achievement thus far!
I came in 3rd in the IVLC 2020 (International Vivarium Layout Contest) by partaking in this competition that was honestly just done on a whim. It’s a pretty renowned international competition for terrarium builders (and this being the first and only competition I’ve ever joined) so I wasn’t expecting much from it, apart from just gaining a fun experience out of it.
So I was really surprised when I learned that my terrarium had actually made it to the top 3 out of so many hundreds of participants worldwide. It actually felt really satisfying, humbling and also gave me a pretty good confidence booster. In a way, it reassured me that this was something where my ideas and skills were appreciated and made me more certain as to what I wanted to achieve in this field moving on.
How are your products sourced and made?
All my items are locally sourced and 100% handcrafted by me. I mainly focus on custom builds and producing one of a kind pieces that clients can pick from. For those who are interested, please drop me a DM on my Instagram!
I would like to believe that my terrariums are able to capture and project a version of the forest which looks similarly rich and majestic as it would in nature even in such a small scale.
What are some of the values you hold dear to?
For every creation to compel a meditative state of mind.
What are the top 3 things you wish you knew before starting out as a brand? Do share some advice for other local business owners out there!
1. Don’t overthink just. Start somewhere.
2. Honor your passion. The rest comes after.
3. Always do your research first to save from unnecessary mistakes along the way.
What are your goals and vision for your brand in the years to come?
I mainly focus on custom builds and producing one of a kind pieces that clients can pick from. Those who are interested can just drop me a Dm on my Instagram page. I also hope my works will achieve a wider reach so that I get more opportunities to work on some crazy projects.
Why did you choose "Black Canvas Scapes" as your brand name?
Black Canvas Scapes is a branch of my main profession which is Black Canvas Tattoos.
What are the top 3 things you wish you knew before starting out as a brand? Do share some advice for other local business owners out there!
1. Don’t overthink it. Just start somewhere.
2. Honor your passion. The rest comes after.
3. Always do your research first to save from unnecessary mistakes along the way.
What are some hardships that the brand has gone through since starting out?
I’ve not come across any significant hardships so far, it’s all fun and games for now.
Lastly, what makes you brand and product unique?
I would like to believe that my terrariums are able to capture and project a version of the forest which looks similarly rich and majestic as it would in nature even in such a small scale.