The 99 Names of Allah Using Micro Art
Translator: Fatıma Nur Dinçer
Micro art is the name given to art performed on tiny materials, has found its place in the art world with the fact that its innovations in the modern world. We can sometimes see this branch of art, which has gained its place worldwide, on a grain of rice, in the hole of a needle, or sometimes even in the shell of a sunflower seed. In this article, we will get to know a micro art artist who fit the 99 names of Allah into the world’s smallest engraving.
Grahan Short – A leading artist in Micro art
British micro-art artist Grahan Short is a veteran of this art. 72-year-old Short spent four months on his latest work. Short, who was mentioned in worldwide news 7 years ago with his Surah Fatiha engravement on the bun of a golden needle, says:
I have always been intrigued to do things that seemed impossible to others. For some time now, I have been looking out for things that would blow minds. Four months of hard work with serious discipline resulted in me writing the 99 names of Allah on a 2mm needle bun. This was a work which could only be seen with powerful microscopes.
Grahan Short continued his work with great discipline, so much so that he worked at nights to avoid being affected by vibrations due to flowing traffic. He used magnesium, potassium, and beta-blockers to stabilize his heart rate to 20 beats per minute, and he only worked on his art when he was calm and stable. He got Botox on his eyelids every 3 months to ensure that his eye muscles would not prove him any distraction while working. Short, who is completely content with the work that he has produced, adds:
What emerged has been the world’s smallest engraving in form but the greatest engraving in terms of meaning. I managed to write the 99 names of Allah from the verses of the Qur’an on a single golden needle bun. This is the greatest achievement of my 57 years of carving. Pieces like this, inspired by Islamic culture, are a thank you, to the tradition that has been followed in the Islamic world for centuries. In addition, calligraphy, which has adorned mosques for years, is my favourite form of art. Some great artefacts are being produced in this field.
There is great competition from collectors worldwide to get their hands on any of Short’s works. Many collectors, including those from America, Germany, Russia, and other countries, are looking forward to getting hold of this marvellous work by Grahan Short.
This article was originally written in Turkish. Click to read it! Mikro Art Sanatıyla Allah’ın 99 İsmi
