Words from Quran engraved on head of a pin

http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/9421340.Words_from_Quran_engraved_on_head_of_a_pin/

Words from Quran engraved on head of a pin

An Islamic-inspired artwork by one of the UK�s foremost master craftsmen has been sold to a collector for over �50,000.

Micro-engraver Graham Short, world-famous for his tiny engravings including �Nothing Is Impossible� Engraved on the Sharp Edge of a Razor Blade, painstakingly engraved The Word of God - a chapter from the Qur�an on the head of a pin - involving hundreds of hours of work in his studio.

�I�ve always been drawn to the beauty of Islam as a living faith,� says Graham, who himself is non-Muslim.

�Equally, the Arabic characters have their own intrinsic appeal, and I felt that micro-engraving the chapter on such a small scale was not only in keeping with, but also an homage to, the intricate artwork that has been a feature of mosques and of the Islamic aesthetic generally down the centuries.�

Prior to commencing work on the piece, Birmingham-based Graham visited religious leaders at the city�s Central Mosque to ensure that the work would not cause offence. There, he was told that the piece would be a very welcome addition to art inspired by Islam.

Graham works at night because the incredible detail of his work requires a minimum of vibrations from passing traffic.

The physical extremes he goes to for his art include long-distance swimming to help maintain a low pulse, securing his engraving hand with vintage leather luggage straps, and even resorting to Botox injections around the eye area to help reduce blinking.

His work is sought after all over the world, with collector interest constantly coming in from the US, Germany and Russia amongst others.

Although The Word of God was not exhibited publicly after completion, a collector visiting a solo exhibition of Graham�s works in Cambridge heard about the Qur�an engraving and asked to see it. Having now purchased the piece, the collector wishes to remain anonymous.

�The sale of The Word of God is evidence of a very healthy and dynamic collectors� scene around Islamic-inspired art in the UK,� says Rod Lacey, managing director of fine art brokers White Space, which represents Graham�s work.

�Graham�s work sits at the crossroads of master craftsmanship and fine art � an area which boasts a very long tradition in Islamic culture � so for me, Graham working on Islamic-inspired pieces like this is his way of paying a wonderful compliment to centuries of tradition from craftspeople in the Islamic world.�

Graham�s works, including his new collection Hall of Fame, can be viewed online at www.thehandsofgenius.com.

Edited by semar - 05 January 2012 at 6:52pm

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samak Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Starter. Female Islam Joined: 22 September 2019 Location: aus Status: Offline Points: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote samak Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Words from Quran engraved on head of a pin Posted: 21 October 2019 at 9:38am
	nice post,

abuayisha Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Muslim Joined: 05 October 1999 Location: Los Angeles Status: Offline Points: 5105	Post Options Post Reply Quote abuayisha Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 January 2012 at 6:57am
	"I work under a powerful microscope with my right arm tightly held to the bench with a leather luggage strap, allowing only my finger tips to move. Any movement in the building affects my steady hand. I was engraving on a pin, early one morning, and became aware of a vibration as I looked through the microscope. It was being caused by a small mouse running along my work bench a couple of feet away from me. The quiet and stillness always brought them out. Lorries passing outside were a constant nightmare in the early days. I've engraved about 200 pins in the run-up to my final one, often ruined through vibration which caused the graver to slip across the pin-head and obliterate several words with one cut. So frustrating! I've considered giving up many times. On reflection, the strain of trying to hold my breath while attempting to engrave between heartbeats, and all the time praying that the point of the graver doesn't break while in the middle of a letter which is invisible to the naked eye - is quite the most ridiculous thing to attempt!" Graham Short

semar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Male Islam Joined: 11 March 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1830	Post Options Post Reply Quote semar Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05 January 2012 at 6:51pm
	http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/9421340.Words_from_Quran_engraved_on_head_of_a_pin/ Words from Quran engraved on head of a pin An Islamic-inspired artwork by one of the UK�s foremost master craftsmen has been sold to a collector for over �50,000. Micro-engraver Graham Short, world-famous for his tiny engravings including �Nothing Is Impossible� Engraved on the Sharp Edge of a Razor Blade, painstakingly engraved The Word of God - a chapter from the Qur�an on the head of a pin - involving hundreds of hours of work in his studio. �I�ve always been drawn to the beauty of Islam as a living faith,� says Graham, who himself is non-Muslim. �Equally, the Arabic characters have their own intrinsic appeal, and I felt that micro-engraving the chapter on such a small scale was not only in keeping with, but also an homage to, the intricate artwork that has been a feature of mosques and of the Islamic aesthetic generally down the centuries.� Prior to commencing work on the piece, Birmingham-based Graham visited religious leaders at the city�s Central Mosque to ensure that the work would not cause offence. There, he was told that the piece would be a very welcome addition to art inspired by Islam. Graham works at night because the incredible detail of his work requires a minimum of vibrations from passing traffic. The physical extremes he goes to for his art include long-distance swimming to help maintain a low pulse, securing his engraving hand with vintage leather luggage straps, and even resorting to Botox injections around the eye area to help reduce blinking. His work is sought after all over the world, with collector interest constantly coming in from the US, Germany and Russia amongst others. Although The Word of God was not exhibited publicly after completion, a collector visiting a solo exhibition of Graham�s works in Cambridge heard about the Qur�an engraving and asked to see it. Having now purchased the piece, the collector wishes to remain anonymous. �The sale of The Word of God is evidence of a very healthy and dynamic collectors� scene around Islamic-inspired art in the UK,� says Rod Lacey, managing director of fine art brokers White Space, which represents Graham�s work. �Graham�s work sits at the crossroads of master craftsmanship and fine art � an area which boasts a very long tradition in Islamic culture � so for me, Graham working on Islamic-inspired pieces like this is his way of paying a wonderful compliment to centuries of tradition from craftspeople in the Islamic world.� Graham�s works, including his new collection Hall of Fame, can be viewed online at www.thehandsofgenius.com. Edited by semar - 05 January 2012 at 6:52pm
	Salam/Peace, Semar "We are people who do not eat until we are hungry and do not eat to our fill." (Prophet Muhammad PBUH) "1/3 of your stomach for food, 1/3 for water, 1/3 for air"