Halcyon is proud to present a new interactive work by British artist Dominic Harris which launches at Naturalis Biodiversity Center on 27th November. Origins of Imagination fuses art, technology, and nature, inviting visitors of all ages to co-create a continuously evolving digital collection of butterflies—a recurring motif within Harris’s work.
Image courtesy of Halcyon
With this latest work, Origins of Imagination, visitors are invited to design a butterfly and scan it into the artwork. The scanned design is ‘brought to life’ with AI, transforming into a realistic-looking butterfly, which flutters around a 6 by 2-meter-long digital environment. Each butterfly is totally individual, designed by the visitor.
Inspired by the playful drawings made by Charles Darwin’s children on his original manuscript of ‘On the Origin of Species’, Harris captures the wonder and innocence of personal expression. This artwork invites both children and adults to explore the world of butterflies through their own creations, celebrating the timeless human capacity for imagination.
The evolving digital collection is presented as three large spheres set within a seemingly infinite digital space, each covered in butterflies. These spheres represent the multidimensional nature of colour and movement, organised by colour, hues, and brightness.
by Dominic Harris at Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Halcyon
Image courtesy of Halcyon
The artificial intelligence responsible for transforming the butterfly drawings has been trained on specimens from the extensive butterfly collection at Naturalis. Extending the experience beyond Naturalis, visitors can take their drawing with them and use a QR code to find their butterfly online as it becomes part of an ever-evolving digital collection.
At its core, the artwork reflects the principles of biological evolution. The butterflies’ transformations are symbolic of the processes of change, adaptation, and growth that occur in nature. Each new butterfly that is added to the collection contributes to the ongoing transformation of the artwork, ensuring it is never static— as with life itself.
With this artwork, Harris aims to inspire people to engage with scientific and artistic ideas. Accompanying educational materials help visitors make connections between their own creations and the broader concepts of evolution, creativity, and biodiversity.
Dominic Harris says, “This constantly evolving artwork is a celebration of how imagination can transform things. It mirrors the principles of evolution: each new contribution changes the collective artwork. Through co-creation in this living digital ecosystem, we’re not only exploring the boundaries of human creativity but also underscoring the importance of preserving nature’s delicate balance.”
Image courtesy of Halcyon
Origins of Imagination has been placed in collaboration with Halcyon. Dedicated to enriching the lives and collections of every type of collector and art enthusiast, Halcyon specializes in placing innovative works of art at museums and in prominent public spaces around the world.
Kate Brown, Creative Director at Halcyon explained: ‘It is a privilege to have been a part of such an ambitious project, which is not only pioneering in extending the story of digital art but will reach and inspire such a broad demographic. At Halcyon, we are committed to supporting and facilitating artwork that can connect with a wide audience, believing sincerely that art is for everyone. Harris’s work perfectly demonstrates this core value.’
Origins of Imagination is on long-term loan from the Moveo Art Collection, a private art collection that initiated the project in collaboration with Halcyon.
Marlous Voshol Curator of the Moveo Art Collection explains: “We aim to introduce people to the works of talented artists in a playful and accessible way, these are often impressive, surprising works with an unexpected twist – like this one. By connecting Dominic Harris with Naturalis, we created an innovative and interactive artwork. Inviting everyone to bring their own butterfly to life will undoubtedly appeal to visitors of all ages.”
Dominic Harris’ Origins of Imagination will be on display from 27th November in the freely accessible LiveScience hall on the ground floor of Naturalis Biodiversity Center.
©2024 Halcyon, Dominic Harris
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