M.D.M.A — Modelmaking, Diorama & Miniature Arts Show and Artist Talk

Exhibition: 20 Feb – 6 Mar 2026 | Fishcube Gallery, Wellington
Ticketed Artist Talk: Friday, 27 Feb 2026 From 6PM

The inaugural M.D.M.A — Modelmaking, Diorama & Miniature Arts exhibition lands at Fishcube Gallery this February, celebrating the craft of miniature world-building — where storytelling, design, and technical precision meet at human scale.

Running from 20 February to 6 March 2026, the exhibition brings together artists working across practical effects, scratch-build modelmaking, and diorama art. Each piece captures a “moment in time,” inviting viewers to step closer and discover layered narratives hidden in small worlds. The exhibition opens on Friday 20 February, with a public opening night from 7pm at Fishcube Gallery, Wellington.

Alongside the gallery exhibition, M.D.M.A includes an Artist Talk on Thursday 27 February, focused on the role of miniatures, models, and practical effects in screen production — and how these analogue techniques continue to shape modern filmmaking.

M.D.M.A Artist Talk & Networking — 27 February

This one-night panel discussion brings together experienced practitioners from film, VFX, and practical effects to unpack how miniature craft sits alongside — and often inside — contemporary screen workflows.

Moderator

• Lance Lones — Creative Technologist
  A former NASA rocket scientist turned sustainable word farmer and long-time occasional pixel pusher, Lance brings two decades of experience bridging science, art, and emerging technology.

Panelists

• Joaquin Loyzaga — Co-director of Scale Studios & Curator of M.D.M.A
  A VES Award winner for miniature work on Blade Runner 2049, Joaquin has contributed practical effects and fabrication work to Avatar, The Hobbit, The Rings of Power, and A24’s X trilogy.

• Warren Beaton — Special & Practical Effects HOD
  With credits spanning The Lord of the Rings and cult genre films including Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, Warren brings deep experience in large-scale practical & special effects.

The talk is designed for VFX artists, filmmakers, designers, and anyone interested in how physical craft continues to influence digital pipelines.

🎟 Tickets are required for the talk on 27 February, with limited seating.
👉 Get your tickets here:
https://www.vfxg.nz/event-calendar#!event/2026/2/27/m-d-m-a-model-making-diorama-and-miniature-arts-talk

Run sheet

• 6:00pm — Doors open | View the M.D.M.A exhibition

• 7:00pm — Panel discussion begins

• 8:00pm — Post-talk networking

Ticket pricing

• $5 — VES & VFXG members

• $15 — Industry (unwaged) & students

• $20 — Industry (waged)

The exhibition itself is free to attend during gallery hours from 20 Feb – 6 Mar 2026. Read more about the exhibition.