A Miniature Miracle (Willard Wigan Sculpture Exhibition (UK))

Member Name: englishrose

Product:	Willard Wigan Sculpture Exhibition (UK)
Date:	26/03/09 (37 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Something completely different

Disadvantages: None

Willard Wigan is, in my opinion, a genius.

I had previously seen him on the tv programme 'This Morning', where he displayed some of his work and talked about how he does it.

For those of you who have never heard of him, he is a 'micro sculptor', and you can see some examples at his website:

http://www.willard-wigan.com/

He produces sculptures that cannot be seen with the naked eye, and the materials he uses for this include pieces of dust and spider's webs.

The size of his works can measure less than a human blood cell, and this is around 1.5 microns : this measurement meant nothing to me, so when the chance arose to see some of his works, I couldn't wait to go and see for myself.

The nearest venue to me was at the Friar Lane Gallery in Nottingham city centre, which is a tiny gallery the size of someone's front room, so I did feel a little bit self-conscious at first, lol.

All the works were dotted around the room in special containers: A tubular structure, rising up to the height ideal for the average human to see: the top is a clear perspex dome and within this was each sculpture.

On top of the dome, there was an eyepiece to look through, similar to when you look into a microscope, and also a light to aid your vision . Even if you are short-sighted etc., that won't be relevant, because you can adjust the eyepieces to suit yourself.

The sculptures that I saw included:

Girl on a Bridge: this was the 'largest' of the works, and was a girl on a bridge (the clue is in the name!) surrounded by water and flowers

Johnny Wilkinson (and ball!)

Fish - apparently this one was carved from a grain of sand

Yellow Submarine (complete with all four Beatles poking their heads out of the roof!)

Marilyn Monroe on a diamond - this was poised on the end of a needle

The Statue of Liberty - in the eye of a needle

There were several others too, which I can't remember now: To be honest, it's not the quality or subject of each one that sticks in the mind, it's just the scale!

All the sculptures are either on the end of a pin, or in the eye of a needle, as they need 'something to stand on' .

As I looked around the gallery, there were books to write comments in by each one - I just wrote something like 'breathtaking' because that was exactly my reaction!

Incidentally, apparently Wigan does have to hold his breath while working, to avoid accidentally inhaling his work , or blowing it away, lol.

The exhibition wasn't overly busy, I guess this isn't everyone's cup of tea, and it cost me £3.00, but I felt it was worth every penny to see something completely original.

The exhibition is touring around the country, and details of this are on his website. If you get the chance, I would really recommend you go and see it.

There are rumours that Wigan's work is all a scam or somehow faked: No, I have seen it with my own eyes, i can assure you it IS real!

http://www.willard-wigan.com/

Summary: I've never seen anything like this before!