TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese micro-sculptor Chen Forng Shean (陳逢顯) on Friday unveiled his new creation, a gold sculpture measuring just 2 centimeters in length, consisting of a corroded firearm with a 0.4-cm butterfly perched on its muzzle.
The work symbolizes an aspiration to move beyond war toward a future of peace, Chen said. The rusted, abandoned gun represents humanity’s determination to reject conflict, while the fragile butterfly embodies a world free from fear and interference.
Chen, who has been working on micro-sculptures for 43 years, spent 30 days crafting the piece under a microscope. Every vein and curve on the butterfly’s wings was filed and polished repeatedly to achieve lifelike detail, per CNA.
On display at the Chen Forng Shean Miniature Art Museum in New Taipei, the work contrasts the cold, heavy metal of the gun with the light, delicate form of the butterfly to heighten its message of peace.
According to Chen, the smaller and more intricate the craft, the more it reflects the purity and extremity of art. At such a minute scale, every cut determines the work’s contours and proportions, requiring exceptional precision.
Micro-sculpture, he added, is far more time-consuming and labor-intensive than other sculptural forms, demanding a solid foundation in sketching and calligraphy. Even the slightest vibration can cause a piece to break or fly out of place, making patience, technical skill, and resilience essential to the process.
