Manama: A Bahrain-based artist has spent years building matchstick models of the Eiffel Tower, London’s Big Ben and the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. 

Rajesh Jaoapal has been assembling his intricate creations at home using thousands of matchsticks.

The Indian national, who works as an automotive sales executive, hopes to showcase his masterpieces after completing a matchstick model of the Bahrain World Trade Centre (BWTC).

“When I first came to Bahrain three-and-a-half years ago I never did anything like this but a little over two years ago I had an urge to build something – something substantial that has a purpose,” the 28-year-old told the GDN.

“I was always good with my hands ever since I was a child and have been drawing and painting which I kept up for years as a hobby.

“One day I saw a picture online of these men that looked like they were 80 holding up matchstick models and I thought I could do that.

“Now I have built models of the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben and even Notre Dame
Cathedral in Paris.”

It takes months for Mr Jaoapal to construct a model which is a time-consuming and meticulous process.

“I only have about two hours a day I can work on the models since I already have a full-time job and it is not just buying matches and sticking them together,” he explained.

“I buy real matches from the cold store and before anything I have to remove the heads delicately.

“I usually have to decide to build something specific before I start and I have to calculate how many matches I need and how thick a base it will have to be to be able to carry the weight of the full model.

“I sometimes use chopsticks or just pieces of scrap wood in the model to get the shape I need and I have even used canvas, but mainly it is just regular matchsticks, glue and a lot of time and steady hands.”

He admitted that one of the hardest models he created was the Eiffel Tower which he built in stages using more than 800 matchsticks, while the cathedral took the longest time to construct. 

“For my next piece I want to build the (Bahrain World Trade Centre) with the fans,” he said.

“I’m still trying to work on the design.

“When I get done I hope to put them all in an exhibition but I don’t have any idea how to do something like that.

“My hope is that by putting myself out there someone will approach me to showcase my work.

“I also plan to sell them as I do this all in my home and I am running out of space.”

Mr Jaoapal’s work is being displayed on his Facebook page, www.facebook.com/rajesh.muthupet.

ahmed@gdn.com.bh