The Darwin Series is a pivotal body of work in which Christian Hook draws inspiration from On the Origin of Species to explore themes of adaptation, variation, and transformation. Using equine anatomy as a central motif, the series reflects on the parallels between evolutionary theory and the artist’s own process of creation.
Working in an instinctive and deliberately organic manner, Hook embraces cycles of construction and destruction—allowing forms to dissolve and re-emerge, much like the processes found in nature itself. The paintings capture a sense of movement and transition, focusing on the fleeting moments between states of being.
Stripped back in palette and approach, the series marks a significant moment in Hook’s practice, where figuration and abstraction begin to merge with greater intensity. At once analytical and expressive, The Darwin Series reflects an ongoing dialogue between art and science, offering a powerful meditation on change, time, and evolution.
2017 · 25 works
A Line in the Balance
The Darwin Series · Oil on canvasWatch
