Evolution and Reverence is an interdisciplinary art project that explores the profound connection between humans and fish through both evolutionary biology and ancient Chinese culture. This project is inspired by Darwin’s theory of evolution, which traces human ancestry back to ancient fish, and the symbolic representations of human-fish hybrids found in the Banpo culture’s pottery. The work delves into themes of life, fertility, and continuity, examining how our understanding of human origins is shaped by both science and culture.

Drawing on Darwinian evolution, the project reflects on how all life, including humans, can trace its lineage to fish, exploring the continuity of life over millennia. The depiction of human-fish hybrids in Banpo culture pottery, which dates back to ancient China, introduces an artistic interpretation of this evolutionary connection, linking cultural mythology with biological reality. The hybrids, often associated with fertility and life cycles, offer a symbolic representation of the ongoing relationship between humans and the natural world, as well as the reverence for life that has existed in human consciousness for centuries.

By blending the scientific exploration of evolution with the artistic and cultural symbolism found in ancient Chinese artifacts, this project aims to highlight the connections between past and present, science and art, and humanity’s fascination with the origins of life. Through this visual narrative, the project invites viewers to contemplate the deeper meaning behind our shared ancestry with fish, fostering a deeper understanding of our place in the natural world and our cultural heritage.

Ultimately, Evolution and Reverence seeks to celebrate the mystery of life by drawing connections across time and space. It encourages reflection on the continuity of existence, the sacredness of life, and the reverence we owe to our origins, as both biological beings and cultural creatures. By exploring this theme through both scientific theory and cultural expression, the project offers a rich, multi-dimensional perspective on the interconnection between humans and the natural world.