A British artist has carved what is considered to be the world’s smallest nativity scene into the hole of a needle. The work can only be contemplated with the help of a microscope
Newsroom (November 30, 2022, 2:00 PM, Gaudium Press) The 76-year-old British artist and micro-engraver, Graham Short, presented last weekend one of his works that is considered the smallest nativity scene in the world.
Christmas festival and nativity scene exhibition
The church of St. Lawrence in Northfield, Birmingham, England, held a Christmas festival and organized an exhibition of nativity scenes, in which Graham decided to participate. The artist presented a nativity scene that can only be seen with the help of a microscope.
He has engraved, in the hole of a needle, in a grain of gold, the scene of the birth of the Baby Jesus. The image is about 100 micrometers* and a bit larger than the thickness of a hair, which on average measures 70 micrometers. Short used an extra thin needle to make the engraving.
The artist explained that it took 40 hours to engrave the scene on the tiny gold particle. In addition, he took some medication to slow his heartbeat in order to better control his movements: “I record between heartbeats,” he explained.
“They get to Graham’s and look through the microscope and just can’t believe what they’re seeing.” https://t.co/NUdNhKSfH8
– Premier Christian News (@PremierNewsDesk) November 28, 2022
Techniques of the artist and printmaker
Graham Short also uses other techniques to make his works, such as applying Botox every three months to his eye muscles to prevent involuntary movements. He himself has classified his methods as “a bit extreme.”
In addition to these body control strategies, the artist explained that he prefers to make his works at night, between midnight and 5 am, times when there is less circulation of cars, which avoids unwanted vibrations.
This is not Graham Short’s first micro-work. He has already engraved an image of Queen Elizabeth II on the head of a pin on the occasion of her 90th birthday.
*A micrometer is equal to one millionth of a meter.
Compiled by Zephania Gangl