Natural Selection 1981

Editor: This is Antony Gormley's "Natural Selection," which seems to be a progression of forms. It reminds me of an evolutionary timeline. What do you make of it? Curator: I see potent symbols here. The repetition and gradual transformation tap into deep cultural memories of progress and change. Does this ordered line evoke any other linear symbolic systems for you? Editor: I suppose it is a little like an abacus, or even musical notation? Curator: Precisely! The artist uses a visual language we instinctively understand, prompting us to reflect on our place within a continuum of existence. I find it quite powerful. Editor: I see that now. It’s amazing how forms can communicate such complex ideas.