Russian Artist Stitches Masks For Insects To Protect Them From COVID-19

In a rather bizarre incident, Russian artist Anatoly Konenko, famous for his miniature works, has been creating mini masks for insects in an attempt to defend them from the deadly coronavirus.

Russian Artist Stitches Masks For Insects To Protect Them From COVID-19

Konenko reportedly told media outlets that the world is going through a difficult time and that it was necessary to save insects and animals from the coronavirus. In his attempt to do so, the artist as been stitching mini masks for them, which are about the size of a rice grain. They are made of a special high-density medical fabric and also possess a built-in air filter.

View this post on Instagram

These images show a grasshopper and crab in a protective mask created by microminiaturist Anatoly Konenko. Mini-masks about the size of a rice grain are made of a special high-density medical fabric with a built-in air filter. Anatoly Konenko is one of Russia's most famous microminiaturists; his works include a grasshopper playing a violin, a shod flea, a miniature bass guitar, a camel train in a needle's eye, and over 200 miniature books. Photos by Yevgeny Sofiychuk / TASS / Getty Images #microminiaturist #microminature #grasshopper #crab #facemask #anatolykonenko

A post shared by The Independent (@the.independent) on May 22, 2020 at 1:00am PDT

The artist reportedly used dead insects from the streets of Omsk as models for his new mask collection. Though the masks do not actually protect the animals, it is said that the meaning of his work is symbolic. As many around the world are suffering due to the coronavirus pandemic, his work emphasizes the need to protect them.

Till date, he has created masks for a grasshopper, a wasp, a dragonfly, a buck, and a crab. In the the near future, he is all set to create masks for even smaller insects such as mosquitoes.

Also Read: Meet Nadeem Shaikh, A Foot Artist, With Passion And Positivity As His Painting Tools

View this post on Instagram

In the Museum for Fine Art in Omsk there is a whole room full of miniture art made by Anatoly Konenko. He makes things you can only see through a microscope and holds the world record of the smallest book. Which I couldn't photograph because it is so small. So I made this picture instead :). . . . #омск #руссиа #omsk #omskcity #russia #rusland #siberia #travellingrussia #anatolykonenko #miniatureart #анатолийконенко #instatravellers

A post shared by Marjolein Koster (@marjoleinck) on Aug 13, 2017 at 10:34am PDT

Konenko Is One Of Russia’s Famous Microminiaturists

Konenko is one of Russia’s famous miniature artists and is known for the the miniature books he creates. Till date, the artist has published more than 200 miniature books.

His edition of Russian author Anton Chekhov’s ‘Chameleon’ is printed on paper and includes 30 pages, 3 color illustrations, and a portrait of Chekhov. What’s most amazing about this book is the fact that it has a size of 0.9 x 0.9 mm. In 2002, Anatoly Konenko was listed in Guinness Book of Records for creating this book.

Konenko works with a variety of media and uses human hair, poppy seeds, as well as rice as surfaces. Most of his work is visible through microscopes only. In 2011, the artist created a miniature aquarium to house a living tiny fish. It contained just two teaspoons of water, two fish, and some algae. Some brilliant stuff, isn’t it?

Also Read: Expansive Coronavirus-Themed Grass Graffiti Unveiled In Swiss Alps