Willard wigan biography of martin
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He struggled with dyslexia and found it challenging to excel in traditional academic subjects. He crafted tiny houses, shoes, and hats for them, marking the beginning of his artistic journey. His focus and control are paramount; he must regulate his breathing and heartbeat to avoid disturbing his delicate creations. He said that his childhood teachers "made [him] feel small, made [him] feel like nothing."
He decided to prove that "less is more" and that "nothing could be everything." Wigan was awarded an MBE for services to art in July 2007.
That’s how involved in my work I become.
To become a jeweler, seamstress, textile/fine artist
To be an Artist
Willard Wigan
Willard Wigan: Master of Miniature Marvels and Champion of Creativity
Willard Wigan is a renowned British artist and sculptor who is best known for his incredible micro-sculptures, which are often described as some of the smallest artworks in the world.
My tiny world becomes everything to me.
A necessarily small touring exhibition of his work visited several cities in the UK in 2007 and 2008 (currently at the shop and gallery attached to the Hard Days Night Hotel in Liverpool, until 30 September 2008). His work serves as a testament to the power of creativity and the dedication required to achieve artistic excellence.
In addition to his artistic endeavors, Willard Wigan is an advocate for dyslexia awareness and often shares his story to inspire others who face learning challenges.
However, he discovered that he had an extraordinary ability to create minuscule sculptures. To paint his creations, he uses a hair plucked from a dead fly (the fly has to have died from natural causes, as he refuses to kill them for the sake of his art). His ability to turn everyday materials into extraordinary art has pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the world of fine art.
He wanted to show the world that nothing existed, deducing that if people could not view his work, they would not be able to criticize it.
He has since aimed to make even smaller artworks, visible only with a microscope. Born on June 15, 1957, in Birmingham, England, Wigan has gained international recognition for his exceptional talent and unique artistic approach.
Early Life and Inspiration: Willard Wigan’s fascination with tiny objects and miniature art began in his childhood.
He has a learning disability and doesn't know how to read or write. Additional footage in the production archive includes Willard flying aircraft made of thin balsa wood, carving with a toothpick, and discussing his early life. He has also received honorary degrees and recognition from various institutions and organizations.
Legacy: Willard Wigan’s micro-sculptures continue to inspire artists and amaze audiences worldwide.
Wigan’s journey from a troubled childhood to becoming an internationally acclaimed artist highlights the transformative power of creativity, resilience, and the ability to see beauty in the smallest of things. It often takes weeks or even months to complete a single piece. In 2010, the BBC reported that Wigan had sculpted a model of St Bartholomew's church in Chosen Hill, Gloucestershire, on a grain of sand that he had taken from its churchyard.
Some of his most notable works include sculptures placed within the eye of a needle, on pinheads, or even on grains of sand. Wigan uses a tiny surgical blade to carve microscopic figures out of rice and fragments of grains of sand and sugar, which are then mounted on pinheads.