Darwin's Evolutionary Tree

I began my research into creativity and evolution with Darwin and his theory of natural selection. “Natural Selection is the process by which favourable heritable traits become more common in successive generations of a population and unfavourable heritable traits become less common, due to differential reproduction” (Kutschera 2011 p 1).

However what caught my imagination was his creation of the ‘tree of evolution’ diagram to explain evolution. Darwin’s diagram was preceded by scala naturae, literally "ladder/stair-way of nature" also referred to as the "Great Chain of Being" Kutschera (2011 p 3). My attention was captured by the symbols of the tree and the chain, I have used both previously in my art work. The tree is an archetype or symbol of self in psychotherapy theory and the chain for me was a dream image; I dreamt of chains growing upwards from the ground and I have been using it as a symbol of my place in history ever since.

I also loved that the evolutionary tree was a creation of Darwin’s that took courage; it was unpopular in society in his lifetime but is widely accepted now, a common trait with many artist’s creations.

This became the inspiration for the first piece I worked on;

I re created a 3D version of Darwin’s ‘tree of evolution’ for which I used his diagram of the coral he drew in his sketchbook in 1837. It is believed he modelled his tree diagram from a Red coral (Corallium rubrum).

I built a wire and plastic tubing armature and using Delica (Japanese weaving seed beads) in a bright red (similar to polished red coral); creating a reproduction of the coral tree. I bought a facsimile copy of Darwin’s Origin of the Species (originally printed in 1859, my copy was printed in 2003) and on page 117 where Darwin has drawn his ‘tree of life’ diagram I have the coral tree growing through it. I wanted this piece to be displayed in relation to its predeceasing theory ‘the ladder of life’ so the plinth for this piece is a wooden ladder.

It struck me as I was weaving the tree that there is an irony in recreating a coral tree from media normally used to make jewellery when the red coral, Corallium rubrum is presently endangered due to over harvesting to supply the jewellery market.

• Kutschera, Ulrich (2011) From the scala naturae to the symbiogenetic and dynamic tree of life Biol Direct 2011: 6:33. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3154191 (accessed 22/7/13)

• Arthur O. Lovejoy (1964. First published 1936), The Great Chain of Being: A Study of the History of an Idea, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, ISBN 0-674-36153-9 In http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_chain_of_being (Accessed on 22.2.14)

• Photograph taken by Denis Dunne www.shinedenis.com