In an astonishing fusion of art and innovation, British artist David Lindon has curated the world's first "wearable art gallery." This unique creation features a trio of renowned works by Vincent van Gogh, impressively rendered at a mere 0.5 millimeters in size.
The result? You'll need a microscope to behold Lindon's painstakingly meticulous renditions of "Starry Night," "Sunflowers," and "Self Portrait."
The Making of a Microscopic Marvel
Lindon spent two painstaking months crafting these miniature masterpieces and placing them in a wristwatch, resulting in an exclusive piece of art, retailing at $192,544.
His remarkable endeavour was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, which is marking its milestone this month. In a blog post, Lindon described the challenging nature of his unique process.
“It is a real challenge to control my hands and my breathing, let alone create something almost literally out of nothing. Only when you look into the microscope for yourself can you appreciate the magic, the intricate details, and the depth that photos don’t capture,” he said.
The demanding precision of his work requires an environment devoid of external disturbances. Consequently, Lindon has chosen to work exclusively at night since 2019, avoiding daytime traffic noise and other potential distractions.
Art at the Beat of a Heart
Lindon's technique, while uniquely modern, is not without its own traditional artist's woes. He has tailored his workflow around his own heartbeat, which has the potential to disrupt his meticulous process.
He uses modified equipment fine-tuned to his distinct style, helping him to control the delicate intricacies of his work. “I must slow down my breathing (to steady my hands) and keep my heart rate as low as possible.
A twitch from my pulse can wreck months of work. My hands still jump a little as my heart beats, so I work in a rhythm between each pulse. If I don’t concentrate all the time my fingers can accidentally flick weeks of work off the microscope never to be seen again!,” he explained.