A micro-artist from the south coast of England has once again entered the record books, this time by shattering his own benchmark for creating the world's tiniest handmade sculpture.
The Invisible Masterpiece
David A Lindon, based in Bournemouth, Dorset, has crafted a new artwork so minute it is invisible to the naked eye. His creation, titled The Yellow Smiley Face, is a single microdot positioned on the eye of the late Queen Elizabeth II on a first-class postage stamp.
The sculpture's dimensions are almost incomprehensibly small, measuring a mere 0.01104mm by 0.01233mm. To put that into perspective, the piece is no larger than a single particle of talcum powder, a human blood cell, or a droplet of fog.
Scientific Verification of a Record
The artwork was so exceptionally small that Lindon required expert assistance to confirm its size. He turned to scientists at Bournemouth University, who used their specialised, high-resolution microscopes to measure the sculpture and verify the new record.
This achievement officially earns David the new Guinness World Record for the smallest handmade sculpture, a title he previously held for his Red Lego Brick sculpture, which measured 0.02517mm by 0.02184mm.
"I am thrilled at this news and grateful to Bournemouth University for measuring it," David said. He described the scale of his work by comparing it to everyday microscopic objects.
Inspiring a Miniature Worldview
Dr Sarah Elliott, associate head of school of life and environmental sciences at the university, believes the feat will captivate students. "Our students will be fascinated to see the sculpture that David has created for us, and we hope that this will inspire students to think of life in miniature in different ways," she said.
Lindon is no stranger to microscopic art. He has previously garnered attention for his World’s Smallest Zoo, a solo exhibition featuring a menagerie of tiny animals contained within the eye of a needle. His portfolio also includes minuscule recreations of a Banksy painting and Mickey Mouse.
The artist employs a unique and meticulous process, often working in the middle of the night to avoid disturbances and even slowing his own heartbeat to achieve the steady hand required for such precision.
The stamp bearing The Yellow Smiley Face is now displayed mounted on a glass tower and housed inside a sealed glass box, preserving the record-breaking, invisible artwork for posterity.
