Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? by Paul Gauguin is a classic example of a painting asking the big questions that have inspired artists since the beginnings of humankind. Palaeolithic people produced sculptures of female figures, such as the Venus of Willendorf, thought to represent a goddess of earth, a talisman of birth and fertility.

Theories such as The Big Bang, scientific discoveries such as DNA and creation myths have all fuelled artists’ and designers’ creativity. Many of these responses are spectacular renditions of the human imagination, as their subject matter is often impossible to actually observe. Cornelia Parker’s Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View is a good example of this. Matter/energy is thought to be indestructible, so creation and destruction are inextricably linked. Blacksmiths, potters and glassblowers use fire to create new and precious objects. Forests wiped out by fire immediately spring back to life. Like the legend of the Phoenix, fire destroys but creates anew. Some plants, such as lodgepole pine, eucalyptus and banksia, depend upon fire to reproduce. 

Iron is purported to be the first and only metal essential to the origin of life. It is a fundamental metal that is responsible for the vast range of autumnal hues seen in parks and gardens. Many of the colours on the artist’s palette are iron pigments. Artist colours often have strange sources, from crushed beetle carapaces to complex synthetic manufacturing processes. 

Retaining the characteristics of the original material is often a vital part of design; wood grain is enhanced, not concealed, and the ageing patina of metals is exploited in the surface qualities of both sculptures and functional objects. The Angel of the North by Antony Gormley exemplifies this; constructed of Cor-Ten steel, its unprotected surface is intended to oxidise and produce a distinctive mellow patina. Furniture is often finished with simple oils and varnish to expose the beauty of the natural grain. Textile designers sometimes choose to exploit the natural colours and textures of the fibres they use, rather than stain or dye them. Mirka Knaster’s stitched work, Journeys into Unknown Territory, fully exploits the natural textures of individual strips of handmade papers.

Contemporary photographers who readily have access to cutting-edge technology and digital media, often explore and experiment with the original chemicals and processes used at the very beginnings of photography. The effects produced by these processes are unique and add distinct characteristics to the images created by them. For this reason, Tim Rudman, along with many others, chooses to use the historic silver gelatine print process for his images. Peter Wiklund uses pinhole cameras to create mysterious narrative imagery. 

The search and exploration of our individual personal ancestry and roots often fascinates artists across all disciplines and inspires them to produce unique responses. Yinka Shonibare’s Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle is one of many pieces created by the artist in his journey to explore his heritage. 

The importance of direct observation and going back to the source when developing a design or artwork has long been acknowledged. An example of how complex and fascinating abstract forms can be derived from original observation is Piet Mondrian’s tree series. The sequential evolution of the final paintings can be clearly followed from the original, accurately observed studies. In contrast, Albrecht Dürer’s woodcut of a

rhinoceros was drawn purely from a description from someone who had actually seen one.

Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species caused uproar when it was published in 1859 and inspired many artists of the time. A recent exhibition, “Endless Forms”: Charles Darwin, Natural Science, and the Visual Arts explored the extensive impact his ideas had on the art world. Max Klinger was heavily influenced by Darwin’s theories, and this can be seen in many of his works such as Siesta 1. It is interesting to see contemporary artists such as Willard Wigan still being influenced by Darwin and producing a micro sculpted portrait as a tribute. Here are some other suggestions that may stimulate your imagination:

skeletons, micro-organisms, viruses, bacteria, DNA

fossils, geology, springs, volcanoes, caves, rockpools

museums, hospitals, nurseries, schools, fountains

raw materials, mines, quarries, earth, clay

seeds, embryos, eggs, foundations, ceremonies

airports, stations, launch pads, starting gate/blocks

ideologies, political movements, religions, myths

stars, astrology, aliens, meteorites, craters, big bang, cryogenics

Prometheus, radioactivity, Chernobyl.