Brief: Design a series of large-scale illustrations for the Natural History Museum, that heighten the atmosphere of the foyer. The wall illustrations should convey a narrative about the venue, either focusing on the history of the museum, the exhibits contained or a series of facts about the subject matter. Concept: I researched the history of the museum and found that Charles Darwin played a significant role in its past. Darwin is celebrated as one of the greatest British scientists and transformed the way we understand the natural world with his ideas and discoveries. It was also not until this period (Victorian era) that the concept of natural history and the collection of objects were considered a specialised science.
Outcome: The murals focus on Darwin’s discoveries and are inspired by Victorian scientific drawings.
The first wall features a series of birds and illustrates Darwin's finches. Darwin’s theory proposed that species evolved through a process of natural selection.
The second wall brings to life Darwin's tree of life, which describes the relationship between organisms both living and extinct.
