Halcyon Gallery Partners on a Digital Realm of Butterflies and Artificial Intelligence

Investigate the convergence of art, technology, and nature in “Origins of Imagination” - an interactive installation by digital artist Dominic Harris.

‘Origins of Imagination’ by Dominic Harris in the Naturalis Museum, Leiden, the Netherlands

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a pivotal force in molding the future, with its impact permeating all aspects of our life, including the realm of art. A new interactive exhibit is being launched at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands, resulting from a collaboration with Halcyon of New Bond Street, digital artist Dominic Harris, and the Moveo Art Collection. The show, titled “Origins of Imagination,” integrates art, technology, and nature, providing visitors of all ages the chance to collaboratively create a perpetually changing digital collection of butterflies.

Visitors may create their own butterfly, which is subsequently rendered by AI into a realistic, fluttering entity within a six-by-two-meter digital environment. Each butterfly, crafted by the visitor, is so distinctive, embodying the personal ingenuity of its creator. The artificial intelligence that generates the butterfly patterns has been trained using specimens from the extensive butterfly collection of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center. To augment the experience beyond the physical environment, visitors may take their own butterfly designs and utilize a QR code to monitor its online voyage, where it integrates into the ever expanding digital collection.

“Origins of Imagination” by Dominic Harris in the Naturalis Museum, Leiden, the Netherlands

Drawing inspiration from the whimsical illustrations by Charles Darwin's offspring on his original manuscript of "On the Origin of Species," Harris encapsulates the marvel and naivety of individual expression. This exhibition enables children and adults to interact with the butterfly realm in a personal and innovative manner, honoring the lasting influence of creativity across generations.

The dynamic digital collection is displayed as three expansive spheres situated within an apparently boundless digital environment, each adorned with butterflies. These spheres encapsulate the dynamic and multidimensional essence of color and motion, organized by hues, tints, and luminosity.

“Origins of Imagination” by Dominic Harris in the Naturalis Museum, Leiden, the Netherlands

The artwork fundamentally embodies the principles of biological evolution. The metamorphoses of butterflies symbolize the processes of change, adaptation, and growth that transpire in nature. Every newly added butterfly to the collection enhances the continual evolution of the artwork, guaranteeing its perpetual dynamism — akin to life itself. The artwork fundamentally represents the principles of biological evolution. The metamorphosis of each butterfly reflects the processes of change, adaptation, and growth inherent in nature. As fresh butterflies are incorporated, they enhance the continuous evolution of the sculpture, guaranteeing that, akin to life, the artwork is perpetually dynamic.

Dominic Harris states, “This perpetually evolving artwork honors the transformative capacity of imagination.” It reflects the principles of evolution—each new input transforms the collective work. In this dynamic digital environment, we are not only expanding the limits of human creativity but also emphasizing the necessity of maintaining nature's fragile equilibrium.

The cooperation with Halcyon, titled “Origins of Imagination,” demonstrates the company's dedication to showcasing creative artworks in museums and public spaces globally, enhancing the experiences of collectors and art aficionados.

Kate Brown, creative director of Halcyon, states, “Participating in this innovative project is an honor.” It not only expands the limits of digital art but also engages a varied audience, demonstrating that art have the capacity to inspire all individuals. Harris's oeuvre demonstrates this conviction.

“Origins of Imagination,” on a long-term loan from the Moveo Art Collection, was developed in partnership with Halcyon. Marlous Voshol, Curator of the Moveo Art Collection, emphasizes that the objective is to present audiences with surprising and whimsical creations by skilled artists. This partnership with Dominic Harris and Naturalis has produced a very creative and interactive artwork. The objective is to engage audiences of all ages by encouraging visitors to animate their own butterflies.

“Origins of Imagination” by Dominic Harris in the Naturalis Museum, Leiden, the Netherlands

The partnership with Halcyon, “Origins of Imagination,” demonstrates the company's dedication to showcasing creative artworks in museums and public spaces globally, enhancing the experiences of collectors and art aficionados.

“Origins of Imagination” will be shown in the publicly accessible LiveScience hall on the ground level of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center.