Art Forms in Nature

One of my all-time favourite books is Ernst Haeckel’s Art Forms in Nature.  Haeckel was one of Germany’s pre-eminent proponents of Darwinian theory.  He was metaphorically de-frocked as a scientist, but his legacy as an artist remains.  He reveals the patterns of nature in such gorgeous detail.

This illustration of Radiola reminds me of Alexander McQueen’s Spring 2010 collection.  These little creatures, sketched with one hand while Haeckel looked at them under a microscope, look like space age chandeliers (upper corners) or a really fabulous sci-fi weapon (center.)

Acanthophracta: Wunderstrahlinge (Protozoa: Radiolaria)

His colours are extraordinary.  This illustration of sea anemone reminds me of the caterpillar in Alice and Wonderland.

Actinae: Seeanemonen (Cnidaria: Anthozoa)

Then there is this illustration of various sea squirts.  Jewel-like, they look like the inspiration for Faberge eggs or a really fabulous jewelry box.

Ascidige: Seescheiden (Chordata: Ascidiacea

This illustration of the life cycle of a sea urchin is one of my favourites.  It’s so bizarre.  The center top figure looks like a little space man in a luminescent transporter and the center bottom looks like his alien co-worker.  So much beauty can be found in the bizarre.

Echinidea: Igelsterne (Echinodermata: Echinoidea)

This series of jellyfish kills me.  If I had a ballroom, I’d mimic the central illustration of the giant corona-crowned jellyfish as a chandelier ceiling medallion.   The two images in the lower corners would inspire amazing Rodarte-like skirts.

Peromedusae: Taschenquallen (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)

Haeckel’s illustrations aren’t strictly scientific.  I think this is part of what makes his work so appealing to a non-scientist viewer.  The joyous composition of these pictures of orchids and hummingbirds features the marriage of classic aesthetics with science.

Orchideae: Venusblumen (Plantae: Orchidales)

Trochildae: Kolibris (Chordata: Aves)

Art Forms in Nature reminds me to pay more attention to nature.  There are little miracles all around us that can inspire frenzied imaginings and untold inspirations of beauty.  Also, if you’ll allow me a hop on the soapbox, they can inspire us to take care of this planet and it’s creatures.