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Miniature Art, Maximum Skill 微型雕刻，毫芒艺术

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If you study Michelangelo’s David or Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker, it’s apparent that master sculptors must possess a steady hand as well as keen eye for detail. ___1___ In this art form, known as microscopic-carving, there is never any room for error.

如果你仔细观察米开朗基罗的《戴维像》或是奥古斯特．罗丹的《沉思者》，很显然地雕刻大师必须具备一双稳定的手以及不放过任何细节的敏锐眼光。那么，请想象一下创作比你指尖还小的雕塑所必备的技巧会是多么惊人。这种称为微型雕刻的艺术形式，不能允许任何一丁点失误。

The earliest microscopic-carvings ever discovered are over 3,000 years old. ___2___ These early practitioners often used qigong to control their breathing, ensuring that they wouldn’t get jittery and make a stroke that would destroy their work. A modern day master at the forefront of miniature art is a 49-year-old Brazilian carpenter named Dalton Ghetti. But instead of shells or bones, Ghetti has made his mark by carving sculptures on pencil tips. ___3___

目前发现最古老的微型雕刻有三千多年的历史，这些作品是远古时期中国人在骨头或龟壳上刻的花纹。这些早期的工匠常以气功控制呼吸，以确保他们不会手抖而一笔毁掉整个作品。现代有一位走在微型艺术前端的大师，就是49岁的巴西裔木匠──道顿．盖提。不过他并非在龟壳或骨头上雕刻，而是以铅笔笔尖的雕刻闯出一番名号。这个不寻常的素材是他在学生时期为了追求挑战而偶然接触的。

Ghetti uses three tools to make his minute masterpieces: a razor blade, a sculpting knife, and a sewing needle. He makes microscopic lines and scratches with one hand, while the other hand slowly turns the pencil. Over the years, Ghetti has created an assortment of incredible sculptures. ___4___ One pencil sculpture, which featured complex interlinking chains, took him two-and-a-half years to finish.

盖提用刀片、雕刻刀、缝纫用针这三样工具来创作他精细的大作。他用一只手刻，另一只手缓慢地转动铅笔，以创造出超威细的线条和刻痕。盖提这几年来已创作出各式各样令人叹为观止的雕塑作品。虽然他的作品都极小件，但有时候需要投入大量的时间才能完成。他其中一件铅笔雕刻，有着复杂、相互串联的链子，花了他两年半的时间才完成！

Like many artists, Ghetti is not in it for the money. ___5___ But if he ever changes his mind, those tiny trinkets are sure to bring in a small fortune.

盖提如同许多艺术家一样，不是为了钱创作。事实上，他偏好把作品送给朋友，而不是卖掉。但要是哪一天他改变心意，这些小玩意儿绝对能让他小赚一笔。

－by Jamie Blackler

(A)   He stumbled upon this unusual medium when he was looking for a challenge as a student.

(B)   In fact, he prefers to give his works away to his friends instead of selling them.

(C)   So, just imagine the incredible skill set that’s required to create sculptures that are smaller than your fingertip.

(D)  Although his works are extremely small, sometimes they demand large time commitments.

(E)   They were created by ancient Chinese who carved designs on bones and tortoise shells.

Vocabulary

单词发音

maximum [ˋmæksəməm] adj. 最大的；最多的；最高的

steady [ˋstɛdɪ] adj. 稳固的，平稳的

keen [kin] adj. 敏锐的

ensure [ɪnˋʃʊr] v. 保证；确保

destroy [dɪˋstrɔɪ] v. 毁坏，破坏

forefront [ˋfor͵frʌnt] n. 处于领先地位

fortune [ˋfɔrtʃən] n. 财产，财富

stumble across/on/upon sth/sb 偶然碰见，碰巧发现 to discover something by chance, or to meet someone by chance

incredible [ɪnˋkrɛdəb!] adj.【口】难以置信的；惊人的

demand [dɪˋmænd] v. 需要

commitment [kəˋmɪtmənt] n. 献身

More Information

单词发音

miniature [ˋmɪnɪətʃɚ] adj. 小型的；微型的

microscopic [ˋmaɪkrəˋskɑpɪk] adj. 微小的

practitioner [prækˋtɪʃənɚ] n. 从事者，实践者

qigong  气功

jittery [ˋdʒɪtərɪ] adj. 焦虑的; 紧张的

stroke [strok] n. 一笔; 一刀 a sudden action or process having a strong impact or effect

carpenter [ˋkɑrpəntɚ] n. 木工，木匠

minute [maɪ ˈnjut] adj. 微小的

scratch [skrætʃ] v. 刻出

assortment [əˋsɔrtmənt] n. 各式各样东西的混合

in [ɪn] prep. 从事于；参加着 Austral informal joining in; taking part

trinket [ˋtrɪŋkɪt] n. 小装饰物；廉价首饰

medium [ˋmidɪəm] n.（艺术创作所用的）材料

tortoise [ˋtɔrtəs] n. 龟，乌龟

The Micro-Sculpture of Dalton Ghetti

PENCIL CARVING - DALTON GHETTI / - by Tom Hough / SPAR WLB-

Answer