(Above) After Darwin: Contemporary Expressions – 24 Emotions by Mark Haddon. Picture © Natural History Museum
Museums and galleries from around the UK are celebrating Darwin200, the bicentennial of Charles Darwin's birth, with a variety of events paying tribute to the great scientist.
Darwin is one of the most influential figures in history, with his revolutionary theories of evolution and natural selection changing the way many people see the world.
Darwin200, arranged by the Natural History Museum in London, is a national series of events leading up to November 29 2009, the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin’s famous book, On the Origin of Species.
Culture24 looks at some of the must-see events continuing around the country:
Natural History Museum, London, until November 29
The Natural History Museum has been leading the celebrations and their latest exhibition sees four artists, including Turner Prize winner Jeremy Deller and Darwin's great-great-granddaughter, Ruth Padel, displaying new work inspired by Darwin.
The artists have used his book, The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, in which he explored the similarities in emotions between animals and humans, as a source of inspiration. Their finished work represents a contemporary take on Darwin's ideas, studying the relationships and emotions of humans and animals in today's society.
This is not the only homage to Darwin in the museum. As well as a series of Nature Live events exploring evolution, TREE is a spectacular installation by artist Tania Kovats. It's a 17-metre tall wafer-thin section of a 200-year-old oak tree embedded into the gallery ceiling, paying tribute to Darwin's early tree sketches and explaining evolution. The gallery also features a video on the making of TREE. For more information visit the Natural History Museum website.
TREE by Tania Kovats. Picture © Natural History Museum
A Duck for Mr Darwin, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, until September 20
A Duck for Mr Darwin features work from nine contemporary artists exploring Darwin's theories on evolution and natural selection, using video, paintings, sculpture and installations. Tania Kovats has also contributed to BALTIC with a fully working wormery which will, of course, be constantly changing over the course of the exhibition.
There is a humorous video by Marcus Coates in which he dresses up as a giant blue-footed booby and presents a TV show on evolution on the Galapagos Islands. He has also returned with footage of giant tortoises trying to mate and failing.
Mark Fairnington's work makes a refreshing change to the more bizarre exhibits. He has provided a series of oil paintings through the eyes of several animals, paying tribute to Darwin’s difficult studies on animals' eyes. A drawing of a stud bull focuses on the domestication of animals. Visit the BALTIC website for more details.
Marcus Coates, Blue Footed Booby, performance still from Human Report, a film for Channel 9 News, Santa Cruz, Galapagos, Ecuador (2008). Courtesy the artist and Workplace Gallery. Picture: Elke Hartmann
Simple Beginnings: The Story of Evolution, Bolton Museum, Aquarium and Archive, Bolton, until November 7
At Bolton Museum, visitors can explore the power of genetics and how animals have adapted to their surroundings, and learn what Charles Darwin was like as an individual. Bolton Museum is also putting on a series of Darwin-themed events for children during the summer holidays, including a different craft workshop each Tuesday and Thursday.
Take your child to make Ice Age masks, play an evolution board game or make moth mobiles. The workshops begin on July 28 and start at 1pm. Other events will also take place during the summer holidays, such as listening to nature-themed stories (Mondays at 11am) and object handling (Wednesdays).
On July 23 visitors have the opportunity to learn more about Darwin's life and work with a lecture from Reverend Michael Roberts. For the full list of events visit the Bolton Museum website.
Mark Fairnington, Tally. Picture courtesy BALTIC
Darwin Today, World Museum Liverpool, Liverpool, until July 29
This is a touring exhibition organised by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council to explore how Darwin's theories are relevant today. This interactive experience will provide interest for people of all ages in how much Darwin has impacted the world.
Some of the topics explored are extinction, life on other planets, climate change and the evolution of language using fun, interactive examples. For younger visitors, Darwin is introduced in a hands-on way using roleplay with a tortoise and a finch, with fun puzzles to complete. For the adults, the exhibition explores how Darwin's ideas can be used in day-to-day life, such as the building of robots and growing of crops.
This is the ideal exhibition for those who might not be familiar with the works of Darwin and serves as an ideal introduction to his theories. To find other venues, visit the Darwin Today website.
Role player Paul Netterfield as Charles Darwin with his tortoise at World Museum Liverpool. Picture courtesy World Museum Liverpool
Endless forms: Charles Darwin, Natural Science and the Visual Arts, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, until October 4
Endless Forms explores the impact Darwin's evolutionary theories had on the 19th century art world. Darwin was fascinated by visual arts, but his perspective on the evolution of man also inspired many creative minds of the time, including popular artists such as Monet, Cezanne and Degas. This legacy is showcased by a huge collection of masterpieces, as well as striking work from lesser-known artists.
The paintings and sculptures are contrasted by historical documents, taxidermy and original Darwin material collected from around Cambridge, Darwin's alma mater. The exhibit contains more than 200 varied pieces from around the world – many of which have never been seen in the UK before.
The exhibition is divided into various sections including Darwin's Eye – work which influenced the young Darwin and his studies and Darwin, Beauty and Sexual Selection, which looks at the courtship rituals of birds – a subject which fascinated him.
Another theme is The Descent of Humankind, a series of artistic responses to the theory of evolution, with their different depictions of early man. For more information visit the Darwin Endless Forms website.
(Above) Exhibition curator Jane Munro with orangutan, chimpanzee, human and gorilla skulls, on loan from the Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies, Cambridge. Picture courtesy Fitzwilliam Museum
