Meet the Man Making the Smallest Sculptures in the World

The artist Willard Wigan has been making sculptures for six decades, and yet his entire body of work could fit in the palm of your hand.
His record-breaking micro-sculptures, which take months to complete, are made from fragments of pottery, flecks of gold and grains of sand.
And if you think the statues are small, imagine the tools used to make them. Willard has to craft them all himself, from hypodermic needles, shards of diamond and human eyelashes.
Measured in micrometers, and almost invisible to the human eye, Willard has built worlds inside the eye of a needle - Mount Rushmore, the Last Supper, the Moon Landing to name just a few.
He also holds the world record for the smallest sculpture ever made which is the size of a single human blood cell. It’s a sculpture of a fetus carved from Kevlar, and placed within the hollowed hole of a single hair. Truly mind boggling.
When he was 50, Willard was diagnosed with autism, which he credits as his “super power"" allowing him to see the world differently. He says he hopes his astonishing pieces will change other people’s understanding of the world too.
#Sculptures #Microscopic #Art
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[@mixedupdude3849]

His heartbeat being enough force to chisel away at it really puts into perspective how microscopic these sculptures are

[@marcobuncit7539]

Not to mention he needed to not spontaneously inhale or sneeze. Man truly so carefull.

[@stick9758]

Tattoo artist use the same methods when doing small stuff!! This guy just knew the right people and was in the right crowd! What he does is worthless no matter how you look at it unless he uses his talent to grow human kind

[@KiLoKiLa21]

@@stick9758 Your definition of worthless is flawed my friend. You could say your whole existence is worthless what positive impact have you had on anyone.

[@ahliyadawood2583]

8

[@stick9758]

@@KiLoKiLa21 4 amazing kids and I helped quite a few friends get off herion.

[@ObesePuppies]

“I inhaled Alice” has always been my favorite phrase from him

[@blurbutnerd8355]

Alice went down the rabbit hole

[@hanster.gun.3438]

You could feel that he thought it was a funny story but also that he was super disappointed that he had to make her again

[@bellebonebag8096]

RIP Alice

[@loucipher6839]

dont blame him for you relapsing…

[@DefinitelyDrained]

I can imagine it in a porno

[@DieselD7101]

The fact he was able to make sculptures that small so detailed is truely awe-inspiring.

[@sankofax8082]

he's like that old professor in Ant man

[@mrnorthz9373]

Thats a weird way to say "thats awesome"

[@joeleneborzacchiello]

*** THIS *** !!! i was on my way to the comments to say this exact sentence bt scrolled thru a few b/c i KNEW that i couldnt have been the only person, nor the first, to extract it !?!

[@Tio_rop]

Finally, after two long years, Big Great Story is back! I've been eagerly waiting for your return, and it's such a delight to see your content once again. Your videos are just as fantastic as they were before - informative, engaging, and entertaining. Your unique style and perspective are what sets Big Great Story apart, and I can't wait to see more of your videos. Welcome back, and keep up the excellent work!

[@harpman476]

I feel the exact same way.

[@JohnS-er7jh]

wow this is great news!

[@masonbarber871]

A haystack in a needle sounds like the perfect project for this scale!

[@abdimajidmohamed1463]

Wow that's a good one

[@GreatBigStory]

What would you like Willard to make next? 🤩

[@paleoph6168]

The logo of your channel.

[@jaf5569]

Amazing things

[@SDStudiosAnimations]

Jet

[@marashdemnika5833]

Elvis Presley

[@johnbeyene6117]

Welcome back Great Big Story you have been missed ❤

[@Haley-ne6or]

I remember reading about this guy in an issue of National Geographic kids magazine when I was like 10 and being blown away by the fact that making sculptures that small was even possible. 12 years later I still haven’t really wrapped my brain around it. The level of talent is amazing.

[@rzasian]

Makes me want to play him a song on the world’s smallest violin

[@ArchonKain]

He's probably make it for you

[@FenriZz]

Mr Krabs agrees

[@ilikepie4685]

Ok, the fact he uses his pulse to chisel away stuff is kind of insane? It really is that delicate and tiny!

[@leahcotton5315]

“I inhaled Alice” haha - those sculptures are so unique and amazing. Well done!

[@rafaelperalta1676]

Would be nice to have a mini museum for him. A single, large room should be enough space for his special artworks.

[@Prahphet]

Imagine having some human being tell you as a child that your interests aren't purposeful. He reminds me of a person who was free to be himself and focus on what he loved. I'd love to hear more about his childhood.

[@Max-js1mx]

I still am unimaginably glad you guys are back ❤ thank you for sharing the stories that truly deserve to be shown to the world

[@koiyujo1543]

This man is amazing for what the human hand can do! He's an inspiration

[@cambridgeratmom]

The patience required. Admirable.

[@notomovestoomuch]

This is amazing! I love this man, and the videos you make! Great Job!

[@Gg-ij7li]

Jesus loves you and wants to set you free from any bondages in your life! Call upon His name and He will save you! Believe in His death and resurrection and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour and be saved and abandon your sins and turn to Him! Have an amazing day❤️❤️😊😊😊

[@astick5249]

@@Gg-ij7li Tiny sculptures

[@astick5249]

I remembered that his pulse can get in the way of sculpting, but i never realized he *used* his pulse to get tiny movements done

[@cardboardbox3787]

The amount of precision and patience you need to do that such an incredible feat.

[@dolphincrescent54]

Willard is a gift to the world, every sculpture is so beautiful! I have autism too, and Willard inspires me and many others! I want a sculpture!

[@cecilr7986]

Mr. Wigan is an absolute genius. Thanks for bringing us his story.

[@cirkelkk]

what a way to bring back the channel

[@Gg-ij7li]

Jesus loves you and wants to set you free from any bondages in your life! Call upon His name and He will save you! Believe in His death and resurrection and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour and be saved and abandon your sins and turn to Him! Have an amazing day❤️❤️😊😊😊

[@nassima5632]

Just asked myself was the heck happened 😂

[@gnoscyde]

OMG Took me a whole month to realize GBS is officially back. It's really nice to see this channel out of hiatus, once again sending us nuggets of brilliance from the human race.

[@therealseanw.stewart2071]

I just did a double-take in my subscription feed. Great Big Story is back!? Wonderful to see this channel alive again.

[@BleuInMotion]

So amazing! Some people have such incredible gifts.

[@ChellyTheGreat]

Omg this man is literally making art with his heart ! Amazing

[@blubirdgirly]

Dear lord I’ve missed this channel for stories just like this! I’m so glad you’re back!!!!

[@BariNgozi]

Working between his heart beat is a level of precision and concentration I wasn't ready for using his eyelash as a paintbrush is something else man!! wtf

[@RyanStonedonCanadianGaming]

Alice really went down the rabbit hole in a inhale.

[@collisw8302]

Nothing short of pure genius, this man is absolutely incredible.

[@felixdropmann9700]

I never thought I would be this happy that a channel has returned from the dead

[@thesecondkate]

The channel is back??? This is great!!!

[@Mr2at]

What a great guy. Very positive.

[@HuwDouglasEvans]

This guy's skill is completely astounding.

[@wasp_8748]

I’m so happy great big story started posting again

[@kozma8362]

Not big on art, but this is truly the most awesome thing I have ever seen. This guy is a marvel.

[@AJTheInvisibleGirl]

How are you not big on art? At all?

[@Sergeez_]

Great video! Glad you’re back to KZbin!

[@Gg-ij7li]

Jesus loves you and wants to set you free from any bondages in your life! Call upon His name and He will save you! Believe in His death and resurrection and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour and be saved and abandon your sins and turn to Him! Have an amazing day❤️❤️😊😊😊

[@leksayt]

@@Gg-ij7li nah

[@philiq18]

Next level. First time I saw his work I couldn't believe it was real. Some people are just born to be different.

[@dingdong2722]

it is insane how he inhaled his sculpture by accident that's how tiny it is

[@leronm5039]

Woah I didn't know Great Big Story was back! I swear I just revisited this channel a few weeks ago to watch some old videos, super psyched you guys are still going!

[@madeofcastiron]

he can make a microscopic sculpture with his hands, and i can’t even hold my hand out and keep it steady

[@jdmderick]

It's so refreshing to have Great Big Story back!!!

[@-ronin-6069]

Absolutely Incredible!!!!!🔥🔥👍👍👍

[@victorb5]

Such a neat sort of creativity! Doing anything at that scale must be so difficult in terms of precision, concentration, and accuracy. So glad this channel is alive again :)

[@SleepingSoldier]

Haystack in a needle... Interesting.

[@keithgordon4726]

So good to have y’all back.

[@jamesh318]

What skill and genius, just incredible

[@Archeloney]

"I inhaled Alice [...] she's in my cavities somewhere" is something I thought I'd never hear in my life

[@stroeberries]

so glad you guys are back to tell us more interesting great big story around the world!!

[@darkstepwarrior88]

simply amazing pieces of art, also the amount of focus this requires must be off the chart

[@peteryeung111]

That’s incredible! No matter what it is…just do something unique and enjoyable. The world will notice you when you’re great at it.

[@eeshsinger]

Hey, they're back. Awesome, welcome back; I've missed this channel. It's been a hot minute since this channel retired.

[@Jessica-kk1cz]

So glad these Great Big Stories are back. Watching this story now with my CVS reading glasses on. This guy has a superpower

[@dotal212]

Happy to see this channel again😢😢😢

[@GodIsInTheTv]

Back when i was a kid, there was a story of a guy doing this. Except he didnt use equipment to help him see. There was even a story of how it changed his eyes sight and made it better.

[@SaitoHimea]

Heyyyy you're back!!!!! This is one of the happiest things happen this year for me

[@marashdemnika5833]

Wow, I remember watching about this when I was a kid, to get to know the story behind this is incredible and is kind of nostalgic

[@justdoingitjim7095]

I used to write poetry in spirals. I'd start with the title and then the verses would follow, complete with periods and commas. As I wrote in an ever decreasing spiral inwards, I wrote smaller and smaller. I use a normal #2 pencil and when I got close to the finish I'd have to sharpen the pencil after each letter. I used a standard double edged razor blade like the ones I shaved with, to sharpen the pencil lead. After several years I was having to use a magnifying glass to finish my poems. Not because I was writing smaller, but because my eyesight was getting worse. I quit writing in spirals and my eyes got better, so I never went back to it. It was just something unique that I did for while!

[@hawks9142]

I remember seeing this as a kid. Its amazing to see he's still at it. And improved!

[@danielfritts854]

Why aren't these longer and more descriptive

[@AJTheInvisibleGirl]

Uhh because this is great big story. It’s what they do.

[@philipstowers4741]

Amazing. I would very much liked to have seen the process that he uses though.

[@ChristianLamptey]

Yaaayy! Good to see you back! 🎉

[@bellebonebag8096]

If you look closely, you can see his left eye twitching slightly from the barely restrained perpetual rage of accidentally blowing away or inhaling his sculptures

[@明るいボール]

Or worse. Hes being unaware that he accidentally inahled his sculpture and looking everywhere his studio for it.

[@Voidelle]

I’m so glad this channel is back!!!!

[@judithcsernak8449]

Wow, so beautiful and impressive.

[@zonestudiando277]

Great inspiration to all black artists!!

[@peachfreude]

Hey yall came back! Glad to see this channel active again 🎉

[@mob2081]

Adris alba should be the new The Antman. This is a sign.

[@TheJadekungfu]

GBS, Congrats on coming back!

[@JerreMuesli]

Hahaha I laughed so hard with his story about Alice! But wow! How cool is this!!?? AMAZING

[@Buglefrog]

Insane, what an amazing talent this man has!

[@Benji_transport_vids]

I'm sure I remember seeing this guy in a school book - very talented indeed!

[@FinnHarrisPreReleases]

Yayy!! GBS is still uploading! Keep up the good work guys

[@micheles4160]

I’m so glad I stayed subscribed to this channel. And I’m so so glad it’s back. 😊

[@sushiegirl96]

So glad you’re back, Great Big Story!

[@haleycopans296]

OMG you guys are back????? YES FAV YT CHANNEL EVER

[@andyvitale6071]

What an amazing talent!

[@TPLS2]

Alice took a trip to wonderlung

[@sir_arsen]

HOLY MOLY GBS is back!

[@Alexlikesapplesauce]

I love you, welcome back!

[@kentonyc]

Having inhaled Alice is so fitting for Alice!

[@rafe9852]

this guy would make a great surgeon

[@33kersadventures87]

They're back!!!!

[@DIYHOUSEANDFARM]

Loving the comment section. Back to the video: weird and totally awesome. 🤓

[@sweettangoTIMMY]

So great things DO come in small packages! I'll leave now....

[@arzadopey6816]

This is amazing

[@Psithurism16]

I’d love to see more!!!!!!❤

[@Gg-ij7li]

Jesus loves you and wants to set you free from any bondages in your life! Call upon His name and He will save you! Believe in His death and resurrection and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour and be saved and abandon your sins and turn to Him! Have an amazing day❤️❤️😊😊😊

[@slat.r]

I haven’t seen a Great Big Story video in a while!

[@shizznp7411]

I’m so happy GBS is back

[@leonardtrollington107]

Geez. Talent.

[@aboubacarbangoura5650]

I just listened to his story on BBC outlook and I didn't believe till I watched his videos myself 😊😊😊 what a genius 😊

[@erezkoter]

Yess!!! You're back!!!

[@adrianbilly5158]

And this channel is back.❤❤❤ bravooo, what a good news

[@minamina6112]

Bless this wholesome man

[@RafaelCardoso299]

Such a great story :)

[@Fekuni]

I wish there was a making timelapse video of these sculptures

[@ankamil5337]

OMG he’s featured in Ripley’s in Niagara, Canada. Saw some of his works and it’s really mind blowing!

[@qwertyuoqwertyuo6508]

guess you could say this was a great little story

[@littlelilacbunny]

Love this dude !!!

[@simoansays4820]

This man is Amazing and I'm so glad I know about him now :)

[@MrCrafty05]

Amazing ❤❤❤❤ new to your channel and I love your work 😍😍😍