Halcyon presents Origins of Imagination, a new interactive work by British artist Dominic Harris, which launches at Naturalis Biodiversity Center on 27 November. The Work fuses art, technology, and nature, inviting visitors of all ages to co-create a continuously evolving digital collection of butterflies—a recurring motif within Harris’s Work.
With this latest work, Origins of Imagination, visitors can design and scan a butterfly into the artwork. The scanned design is ‘brought to life’ with AI, transforming into a realistic-looking butterfly that flutters around a six-by-two-meter-long digital environment. Each butterfly is individual and designed by the visitor.
Inspired by the playful drawings of Charles Darwin’s children in his original manuscript, ‘On the Origin of Species’, ‘ Harris captures the wonder and innocence of personal expression. This artwork invites children and adults to explore the world of butterflies through their creations, celebrating the timeless human capacity for imagination.
The evolving digital collection is presented as three large spheres within a seemingly infinite digital space, each covered in butterflies. These spheres represent the multidimensional nature of colour and movement, organised by colour, hues, and brightness.
The artificial intelligence responsible for transforming the butterfly drawings has been trained on specimens from the extensive butterfly collection at Naturalis. Extending the experience beyond Naturalis, visitors can take their drawing with them and use a QR code to find their butterfly online as it becomes part of an ever-evolving digital collection.
At its core, the artwork reflects the principles of biological evolution. The butterflies’ transformations symbolise nature’s change, adaptation, and growth processes. Each new butterfly added to the collection contributes to the ongoing transformation of the artwork, ensuring it is never static—as with life itself.
Harris aims to inspire people to engage with scientific and artistic ideas through this artwork. Accompanying educational materials helps visitors connect their creations with the broader concepts of evolution, creativity, and biodiversity.
Dominic Harris says, “This constantly evolving artwork celebrates how imagination can transform things. It mirrors the principles of evolution: each new contribution changes the collective artwork. Through co-creation in this living digital ecosystem, we’re exploring the boundaries of human creativity and underscoring the importance of preserving nature’s delicate balance.”
Origins of Imagination has been placed in collaboration with Halcyon. Dedicated to enriching the lives and collections of every type of collector and art enthusiast, Halcyon specialises in placing innovative works of art at museums and in prominent public spaces around the world.
Paul Green, President and founder of Halcyon, said: ‘Origins of Imagination is Dominic Harris’s most ambitious Work to date – it shifts the role of the visitor from viewer to co-creator. We are honoured to collaborate with Naturalis and the Moveo Art Collection on something as aesthetically breathtaking as it is thought-provoking and truly visionary. We can’t wait for people to discover it.’
Kate Brown, Creative Director at Halcyon, explained: ‘It is a privilege to have been a part of such an ambitious project, which is not only pioneering in extending the story of digital art but will reach and inspire such a broad demographic. At Halcyon, we are committed to supporting and facilitating artwork that can connect with a wide audience, believing that art is for everyone. Harris’s Work perfectly demonstrates this core value.’
Origins of Imagination is on a long-term loan from the Moveo Art Collection, a private art collection that initiated the project in collaboration with Halcyon.
Marlous Voshol, Curator of the Moveo Art Collection, explains: “We aim to introduce people to the works of talented artists in a playful and accessible way. These are often impressive, surprising works with an unexpected twist—like this one. We created an innovative and interactive artwork by connecting Dominic Harris with Naturalis. Inviting everyone to bring their butterfly to life will appeal to visitors of all ages.”
About The Artist
Dominic Harris is a British artist renowned for his pioneering use of technology to create immersive, interactive experiences that explore the boundaries between the natural world and the digital realm. He has gained wide recognition for his innovative artworks featuring butterflies, with projects like “Baby Flutter” (2012) and “Metamorphosis” (2020), which showcase his meticulous attention to detail and fascination with the themes of transformation, nature and human interaction.
Harris studied architecture at The Bartlett School of Architecture in London, where he developed a deep understanding of spatial design and immersive environments. This architectural background informs his artistic practice, allowing him to create works that engage viewers physically and emotionally. Since founding his studio, Harris has pushed the boundaries of contemporary art, merging art, code, and technology into seamless, visually stunning digital experiences.
Known for using cutting-edge technology, including motion sensors, AI, and hand-crafted digital elements, Harris’s artworks invite audiences to interact with and influence his creations. His works have been exhibited globally, and he has worked with prestigious institutions like the Halcyon Gallery. Through projects like “Origins of Imagination,” Harris continues to inspire new ways of thinking about the relationship between art, technology, and the natural world, inviting viewers of all ages to explore the transformative potential of imagination.
About Naturalis Biodiversity Centre
Naturalis Biodiversity Center is the Dutch national research institute for biodiversity. The institute is based in Leiden and hosts over 160 researchers. Naturalis closely collaborates with many universities, research institutes, industry, and government. With over 43 million specimens—one of the world’s largest natural history collections—and state-of-the-art research facilities, Naturalis offers an (inter)national research infrastructure for species identification, monitoring, and understanding of biodiversity. The museum welcomes more than 500,000 visitors per year.
Origins of Imagination will be on display from 27 November in the freely accessible LiveScience hall on the ground floor of Naturalis Biodiversity Center.