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Unusual times, remarkable places

The "Standard of Ur" from ancient Mesopotamia

The "Standard of Ur" from ancient Mesopotamia

31 December 2008

And you thought writing was hard?



British artist Willard Wigam is a microsculptor. His sculptures are so small that they can fit on the head of a pin, or inside the eye of a needle, or sometimes even on a human hair. He has to be careful when creating his art: He lost one piece, he thinks, by inhaling it.

For an interview, visit http://www.guzer.com/videos/needle-art.php. For pictures of his sculptures, go to http://www.willard-wigan.com/.

Believe it or not, Wigam is not the world's only microsculptor. The late Egyptian musician Hagop Sandaldjian turned to microsculpture in his later years. At right are five birds sitting on a baby hair balanced on the eye end of a needle. You can see more of his amazing work at http://www.mjt.org/exhibits/hagop/hagop2.html.

May 2009 be a happy and successful year for you, and may all your books be bestsellers!

12 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

That's amazing. I can't even imagine having the patience for this. Wow.

Happy new year!

Gary Dobbs/Jack Martin said...

I agree -that's totally incredible.

Rae Ann Parker said...

This must take an incredible amount of patience. Wow. You post such interesting topics, Shauna.

Shauna Roberts said...

CHARLES and ARCHAVIST, I wouldn't have the patience either. And imagine how steady these guys' hands are.

RAE ANN, I'm glad you enjoy the topics I pick.

Virginia Lady said...

Between my lousy eyesight and my tremors, I know I couldn't ever even contemplate this one, but it looks really cool! I'm impressed.

Lana Gramlich said...

Wow. Talk about a macro shot! Reminds me of the entire US Constitution I saw written on the head of a pin at the Ripley's museum in Niagara Falls. Just crazy! Sorry for my long, recent absence, btw. Been busy with offline life. My best to you & yours for 2009!

Shauna Roberts said...

VIRGINIA LADY, this seems an art that, like Lance Armstrong and cycling, you have to be born with the body for it.

LANA, happy 2009 to you too! One thing about humans I think is really cool is their insatiable curiosity. We'll pay money to see the US Constitution inscribed on a pin or travel for hours to visit the World's Largest Ball of String, and every barrier around construction site has holes so that people catch look in and see what's happening.

Beth Yarnall said...

Happy New Year! Wow, I guess it's really all about perspective. What's impossible to some is a challenge to others. Great post!

ninthmuse (roz m) said...

I honestly caught myself squinting while imagining the concentration and patience it must take to do this. Bet the sense of accomplishment when you're done is HUGE!

Shauna Roberts said...

BETH, Happy New Year to you too! May you sell many books.

ROZ, you're right, the sense of accomplishment must be great. It would be hard to get oneself to do something like this otherwise.

Michele said...

Oh my gosh, that is amazing.

Happy New Year!!

Unknown said...

I recently met Willard Wigan for a book signing a the My Little Eye Gallery in London, he is a really amazing bloke - so calm and down-to-earth.

His work is just amazing - better than any of the pictures make out, and at just £2 for entrance to the exhibition - it's well worth a trip into London.