Willard Wigan: Hold your breath for micro-sculpture | TED

Willard Wigan tells the story of how a difficult and lonely childhood drove him to discover his unique ability -- to create art so tiny that it can't be seen with the naked eye. His slideshow of figures, as seen through a microscope, can only be described as mind-boggling.
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[@michaelweston409]

I don't care what the negatives are saying this man has a passion for something he does what maybe a 100 human beings or less could do. Out of 7.5 billion people that's something special. This is a gift. Keep up the good work

[@RaphaelAshanti]

I believe he's 1 of 1. No one else in the world makes art this small.

[@littlelilacbunny]

He is 1 of 1 and highly unlikely anyone will ever come close … we need to clone this gem of a man and artist haha

[@ForeverSunny3]

My professor showed me this video. I am studying to be a reading specialist, specializing in dyslexia therapy. Her point was, that many students feel stupid and don't have their intelligence valued in school. It is important to be cognizant of this and to find ways to build them up with their passions and not tear them down.

[@MsGnor]

Fascinating man ... eccentric, patient, dedicated, great sense of humour. Interacting with the world on an incredible level of detail most of us pass by without a thought. What a story!

[@MsGnor]

Sicvicious comment below mentioned Carl Sagan's quote about our Earth in cosmic miniature as The Pale Blue Dot. Incredible article about the original space photo with CS's full quote on wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_Blue_Dot

[@LeftOfToday]

His humor's adorable. His insight's lovely. His work is amazing.

[@Liger._King]

Willard gives real meaning to attention to details. You’ve got to be infallible to do what he is capable of doing. Imagine him applying his art to digital networking - the invisible web. Pay attention to the way he tells his story; he is a very patient man, and that right there is his secret to creating these magnificent pieces of art. Well done, Mr. Wigan!

[@14Mentalist]

He is such a warm hearted and lovely person. He has brilliant outcome on life and we can learn and have from him.

[@baslksa6]

You commented twice 2😂😂

[@justincaseypoohed1823]

@@baslksa6 years apart

[@phylliselias]

This has to be the most wonderful 20 minutes of wonderment ever! What a gift he has - and just mind blowing! Thanks so much for sharing it with the world.

[@zayhertz-deeprest878]

What the fuck is not to like about this? This is incredible beyond what words can express. 28 people are either jealous, or stupid.

[@rlt94]

I love his dry sense of humor!

[@carlycharlesworth1497]

Willard is famous for making the tiniest sculptures in the world! That is something that no one can take away from him. Autism just expresses itself differently that's all. My daughter's boyfriend of 3 years has autism and he is a qualified police officer. He is just like everyone else. Autism is just a different way of thinking and feeling, and really doesn't have to be limiting. All the autistic people I have known are interesting, gifted people in their own chosen subject, just as Willard is.

[@tamarakennedy4976]

What a great speaker and how clever witty and funny..He was engaging and enchanting interesting and mesmerizing to listen to...I think I could listen to him for hours..how clearly he describes his methods and tools..along with comedic storylines about how each piece came to be.

[@Sicvicious]

As Carl Sagan once said, we live on a Pale Blue Dot, suspended in a sunbeam, this Earth, as large as we believe it is, is actually so tiny it cannot be believed.

[@svenlundergard1]

This man is inspiring. He is a genius if you ask me.

[@paulj0557tonehead]

Not only is it small, but Willard has a very good artistic eye. He could be just as successful sculpting larger pieces I'm sure.

[@14Mentalist]

Such a sweet lad. A talent to be proud of. i always loving seeing his work. I often look at things through my microscope. Love it. then i have a telescope for the sky at night.

[@Liger._King]

How is it that his eyes are still so good that he doesn’t even wear reading glasses? That’s even crazier than what he does.

[@feck101]

If you haven’t seen Willard’s work in real life and up close then you are really missing out. This is absolutely amazing and quite magnificent. If you get a chance then go and have a look because it just boggles the mind.

[@bulletproofkam7931]

I love this guy, he's great at what he does, and he's made something of himself, his mother would be very proud.

[@MsOctopato]

What an amazing, humble man. A true artist.

[@theedge5584]

THEY ALL MAKE US FEEL LIKE NOTHING

[@jovanrameau3578]

Amazing, Profound, everyone has a purpose in this life... the trick is to find it.

[@tinygaming9590]

I have met him befor and i also saw his incredible work! I dont even know how he makes them!

[@shaan702]

Well he explains it all here

[@whatdoyousuppose]

Willard you are an utter delight, I could not stop smiling watching this!

[@RandomReddit.]

What an incredible man! His work is out of this world. I've never heard of him until I saw a video on TikTok. Shame the crowd I don't think Americans understand English humor.

[@michaelweston409]

Hed be a great surgeon and a great sniper

[@brianpoetart]

haha epic call

[@karrot101]

or sculptor ;)

[@ebonybryant8553]

I watched this for online school today :)

[@lemon-nu7xp]

Ebony Bryant me too!

[@cha6929]

Proving that operating n our Imago Dei guides us 2 our purpose🙏🏽🖤💎

[@appledoreman]

Small is beautiful. Microscopic is awesome. This man is one in a million!

[@featherelfstrom8405]

It sounds like he's trained himself to only breathe through his mouth - >that's< dedication.

[@freesk8]

I think the message to take from this is "isn't it amazing what human beings can do?" It is inspiring. It suggests that we can do wonderful things as well. But you are right, it does not add to our knowledge or advance science. But it does entertain, and it does have to do with design. Hence, TED.

[@yellowcougar18]

@mrlowdangle There is a point. He said it himself. When he was in school, the teacher used to make him feel small because he had dyslexia. He wants to show that something that is so small can still be substantial.

[@Desert2GardenLV]

Dude is outta his mind. Thats wild. Who would actually sit down and try to Carve a GRAIN of SAND.

[@nugglebunny81r]

wow.. id love to see the work in progress

[@kikigroby6579]

Just amazing

[@shahidabadsha1992]

I would like to know how and when Willard got over his communication difficulty?

[@scootch2]

I admire this man so very much, I can't express. Someone sent this link to me, or I'd never have had the pleasure to know of him. There is no such thing as "nothing." Of course not. But being truly aware helps us to see the world quite differently. I hope the ants finally paid their rent! :)

[@Saddamuel]

You see these in the papers from time to time and think it's gimmicky and rather silly. But to hear him talk about them and what goes into their creation really makes you appreciate how amazing and beautiful his work is. A grain of sand? Particles from the air? Inspires me to have more patience in anything I do. Thx Mr. Wigan :)

[@ninocolato1987]

Wow unbelievable... And he's so cool.

[@bustacapinlutha]

I don't know what to say except I am speechless.

[@ludy41]

I knew Willard from my clubbing days in Birmingham. Good times.

[@ragnarocks0]

Great hand coordination innovation and creativity

[@littlelilacbunny]

Love his art and love the message of paying attention to the little things ❤❤❤

[@beccaflynn6261]

Awe, he seems a little nervous when he's talking, but it's kinda cute. 😊

[@ratholin]

Fricken amazing!

[@gregormech]

so resourceful

[@Parasome]

that is Tremendously Incredible or should I say minutely Imperceptible. He is in his own world on stage reminiscing about his past childhood. Great Work, Genius, maybe he is a Savant.

[@sidarmercan7399]

Barış Özcan'dan gelenler

[@elspoko]

It's design and the capabilities of how far a human can go with simple designs.

[@popaddict]

Wow. Why don't they get this into a nanotechnology lab. If he can carve microscopic gold shards imagine what he could help in doing together with scientists!

[@UnhealthySalad]

1111 + rating... I didn't even know such a thing was possible

[@mcooper593]

Willard is a sensational talent. God bless him 🦋

[@TheGeezzer]

Phenomenal work!

[@agprebel]

Very inspirational.

[@PeikLoef]

18:07 and onward = awesome, well, the whole video is brilliant :D

[@noracharles4389]

he comes across as such a nice bloke

[@brankozeljeznjak]

ein künstler von weltformat ! grossartig !

[@TheUnchainedMind]

Absolutely incredible. What a man.

[@donnarmills9902]

Blessings...enjoying learning about you and your art. :)

[@InsanityHere]

You're amazing. Can you do a Suzuki Bandit motorcycle within a needle?

[@Uniquettt]

excellant moving and inspiring story and incredible skilled hands and eye for detail

[@dlwatib]

One sneeze and it's all gone! He should probably be a micro-surgeon. There's a real practical disadvantage to being a micro-sculptor: Nobody can see your work with the naked eye.

[@Wavefr0nt]

Awesome!

[@1ucasvb]

Greatness is frequently accompanied by oddity.

[@ginniekinz5401]

This guy has all the patience in the WOOORLDDD

[@MsRosehip]

Is there a video of some sort showing all his works?

[@BigBrotherGrim]

Crazy. I would have never thought.

[@lvecsey]

you really felt like there was a sense of what he could accomplish by the end of it

[@yabiseydicemde9262]

Barış Özcan'dan geldim. Hayran kaldım bravo👏👏

[@darkmoondoll]

Wonderfully inspiring. Can totally relate to his story.

[@kathhollandful]

Genius!

[@opollo]

Amazing, truly amazing

[@Halomainaic1234]

Wow, thats incredible.

[@elminz]

Yet it's somewhat interesting that machines can now do this to magnitudes smaller scale. For example, when IBM wrote "IBM" in atoms. Those sculptures are many billions of atoms.

[@da1sun]

Man can do wonders when control of the Nervous-System and the Body, as a whole, in attained...

[@jaydesh9]

simply amazing ..!!

[@theendofconfusion]

Awesome. Just awesome.

[@ArgueExplain]

He would be the king of all Warhammer makers.

[@cablecar830]

I hate how people laugh at him when he's bearing his soul, and when he's actually being funny, not a single snicker..

[@PHlophe]

it is a the youtube algo that was wasn't working properly yesterday.I notice that as well. I couldn't see most of the comments because they had been rated down.I actually assumed that the r.acists had been working overtime but even that was still a lil' too much to be believable.

[@Photoshopuzr]

amazing, wow, Respect!!!

[@Havenscope]

Reminds me of Synecdoche, New York.

[@relaxandgrowwithMegan]

WOW!

[@WhiteShadow2099]

This is amazing

[@Airave]

Amazing.

[@PR4U2NV]

Meditation and breathing exercises all while creating these micro arts. To anyone thinking this is ridiculous is not in tune with true artistic behavior.

[@Trazynn]

This is madness!

[@DixyRae]

Yea, it wasn't a mistake. They targeted this video and then they targeted my video after I said something about it.

[@zalecao]

Amazing!

[@Ubi2447]

if he spoke publicly on a regular basis then i could understand your remark. but he's a sculptor.

[@boorens18]

lol the jokes=painful But the art=incredible

[@86kinky86]

I can't beleive my eyes

[@baddmanaz]

it's like making a model of the moon the size of a baseball... but much harder

[@pimpolinka69]

That's the whole point. He made it all practically with his bare hands. Imagine what he could do if he would posses advanced machinery?

[@xPlantpoTx]

This is amazing, and can you believe he has 10 pints of stella before work 0_o

[@Fatherfilms]

Just wow at this dudes skill and control, absolutely insane! Can't imagine trying to do that, custom tools and awesome microscopes lol. His jokes where pretty bad, should just stick with his crazy art skills.

[@Liger._King]

I hope you’re still alive to read this and to have learned the true spelling of “WERE.”The joke is on you.

[@ozanemremollaoglu1398]

Very cool !

[@triuvm]

Inspiring magnificent.

[@TCminneapolis]

dude just did the robot!

[@joshsslade]

@mrlowdangle I believe Artists do it to heal themselves and the world, however consciously

[@kakashi76767]

he should be a surgeon