Microscopic Art

Art is created to give joy to the one who can absorb and appreciate intricate beauty. Art invokes creativity, wonder and appreciation. Microscopic art is miniature art created under the microscope. The whole and sole credit of microscopic art is given to Willard Wigan, although there are other microcopic artists known. Till date, Willard Wigan is credited with the smallest sculptures known on this living planet. He sculpts forms as tiny as 0.005 mm under a high-powered microscope. Each of his artistic strokes are sculpted between two heart beats for which he has to slow his heart down to create the world's smallest sculptures. The slightest provocation of body reflexes or even a sneeze can destroy long hours of dedicated effort on a micro-sculpture.

Wigan uses tiny homemade tools, a surgical blade and paints with the hair plucked from a fly’s back. Wigan’s journey to fame is inspirational. Willard Wigan can neither read nor write. He started out with a learning disability, dyslexia. Facing embarrassment for his inability to show scholastic progress, he became disinterested in his studies. His setback in schoolwork and the humiliation from his teachers lead Wigan to discover a world where he could find true joy. He spent hours in the company of insects, studying and observing them. These miniscular creatures were his new found friends, his peers who later directed his actions to worldwide fame.

To recreate a better world for his insect friends he built microscopic playgrounds and houses from match sticks and splinters of wood. He encouraged ants to use his mini creations by coating them with sugar crystals or honey. From then on, micro-sculptures were his new found passion. The creator of the world’s smallest sculptures often takes months to complete a piece. His work requires immense patience, dedication, concentration and persistence.

Willard’s crafting tools include a tiny surgical blade, grains of sand and pinheads. He sculpts on anything from wood, sand, fiber, polymer or even gold. Willard Wigan keeps a steady hand when micro-sculpting. He has achieved this by abstaining from consuming stimulants like alcohol or coffee. Every piece of his craft is the outcome of undeterred physical and mental dedication. He is rewarded for his painstaking efforts when art lovers appreciate his art through gestures of awe, bewilderment, excitement and astonishment in addition to adding his works to their collection. His favorite themes are nature, great individuals, historical monuments and landmarks.

Some of his classic works include a Malcom X figure on the head of a toothpick, a Santa Claus, Muhammad Ali, The Thinker, The Statue of Liberty and Elvis Presley all created on a pinhead. His earlier works include The FIFA World Cup and a boxing ring with Muhammed Ali. In 2007 Willard received an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for services to art from HRH the Prince of Wales. Shortly after his award, Lloyds of London commissioned Willard to create a replica of their iconic London Building as designed by Lord Richard Rogers.

Willard translated this masterpiece on to a pinhead. In 2007, the former tennis player David Lloyd purchased Willard Wigan's collection of micro sculptured art for a reported value of £11 million. Willard Wigan is already famous for his smallest sculptures on earth but his aspirations don’t end here. His ultimate goal is to carve atoms. Great men think when men and mountains meet and not by simply jostling in the streets!