The tree as evolutionary icon

What is it about?

This article tells the story of "TREE", the first modern artwork to be permanently installed in the Natural History Museum of London. Celebrating the genius of Charles Darwin and the achievements of the natural sciences, the artwork still relies heavily on the symbolism of the religious tradition, exposing the need for myth and icons in modern science.

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Why is it important?

This article tells the story of "TREE", a slice of a giant oak attached to the ceiling of the Natural History Museum in London. Permanenly installed in 2009 to honour Charles Darwin, its background reveals the complicated relationship between evolutionism and religion by way of an icon claimed by both – the tree.