The «Unique microminiatures» exhibition

The exhibition is devoted to the wonderful world of miracles of art created by hands of four remarkable masters - E. Ter-Kazarian, М.Masliuk, N.Siadristy, A.Rykovanov. 16 works of these authors are submitted at the exhibition.

The Polytechnical museum’s microminiatures collection consists of 252 different microminiatures made with using of various materials and technique. It shows art of microtiny in our country, representing microminiatures from the images on semen of plants (as most ancient genre) up to working microtiny mechanisms.

Each of these masterpieces shows creative search, art taste, philosophy and persistent, laborious work of the talented man - microminiature-painters. Each of them has own methods and technology secrets.

The microminiatures are to be studed under microscope (magnification up to 100) allowing to consider smallest details of exhibit.

Each exhibit and whole exhibition have the original art, decorative decision and information about the authors of microminiatures and materials.

One of masters E. Ter-Kazaryan began his miniature modeling when he was in school. His first exhibition was in Yerevan in 1947.

Among his works there are some exhibits devoted to the Armenian national motives and a history of national culture. The large interest is represented by volumetric microtiny compositions of Ter-Kazaryan. One of them is «Stradivary Violin». In the hole of a very thin needle is the smallest violin in the world with all its 56 details — an exact copy of a violin, made by famous Italian master – Stradivary. The violin is made of wood, covered of varnish, has 4 strings. The size of a violin is 0,25 mm. Besides he is known as talented violin master and musician.

М.Masliuk has been creating microminiatures for more than 40 years. He made more than 500 works. His microminiatures illustrate history of technology and history of Russia. Some works are situated on the cross cut of human hair, some of them is made of gold, silver, steel, nacre and plastic.

For example, the microminiature “Tractor and Two Trailers” . A hair cut across supports a golden “tractor” and “trailers” loaded with microscopic granite dust.

The prominent microminiaturist N.Siadristy has been creating micromodels for more than 40 years. He constantly improves the skill and puts philosophy, soul and heart into his works. Siadristy could shoe ordinary flea with tiny golden horse shoes. He nailed each horse shoes by three steel nails. Their diameter is only 0,006 mm. One of his most beautiful works is «The Rose in the Hair»A hair was drilled lengthwise and polished up to a transparency. The rose is placed inside in. The leaves and the flower are made of paint particles from an old picture. These particles of red, pink and green paint were removed from the picture during its restoration. These small particles of paint reflect the light and give the verisimilar freshness to the flower as in real rose. The maximal size of flower is 50 micron, stem - 5 micron

A. Rykovanov works with rice grains, poppy seeds, ebony and mammoth bone, amber, rock crystal, and other natural materials.

He has painted the world's smallest icon (“The Pantocrator”). “The Pantocrator,” with a book and the “Our Father” prayer text are depicted on poppy seed cuts. The artist used five oil-base color pigments. The micro-miniature was dedicated to 1,000 years of Christianity in Russia celebrated in 1988.

The achievement of a modern science and technology, the development of the automation and robots can not make us forget about human hands, the most perfect instruments created by nature.

The microminiatures of the exhibition show everyone high technology in mastering the materials and high artistic value of the exhibits.

These microminiatures are a part of treasures of the Russian and world culture.