Mykola Syadristy Microminiature Museum

This amazing museum is situated inside the Kyiv (Kiev) Peshersk lavra complex and exhibits the incredible works of master micro miniature artist Nikolai Syadristy. Whilst the Ukrainian born genius may not be one the world’s best known artists, his achievements are huge. Or, should I say small, in fact, they are very small.

Syadristy is the artist of mini-miracles, his skill and creativeness is jaw-dropping and his works are so tiny that they can only be viewed through powerful microscopes. Amongst his creations are the words “long live peace” written in Ukrainian and engraved on a single strand of human hair. Syadristy has also created the world’s smallest book called the “Kobzar” by Shevchenko which has officially been recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. It measures 0.6 mm and consists of 12 pages of poems and drawings sewn together with cobweb. But these are just a few of his amazing creations. Amongst others are a caravan of golden camels set in the eye of a needle, a model of a windmill set on half a poppy seed, a golden chess set created on a pin-head, and my own personal favourite, Rose in a hair. A cavity was drilled in a human hair and polished to transparency. Then a rose stem 0.05 mm wide was fixed inside. The whole exhibition will not take longer than 30 minutes but will live long in the memory. Don’t forget your glasses.