13 Nov Common Ancestors | Kali van der Merwe
A Collective Heritage
“Common Ancestors” is a journey through the eons, a celebration of the shared heritage that connects all living beings. By examining the evolutionary threads linking plants, animals, insects, rocks and humans, it challenges viewers to reconsider their place in the natural world and to appreciate the delicate balance of ecosystems which sustain life.
We can be reminded that our ancestors are not confined to the annals of human history but are written in the evolutionary DNA of every living organism.
The ancestor common to all placental mammals is a tiny, long nosed and tailed shrew alive 180 million years ago. Presently humans and mice share 85% of their DNA. We could call sea sponges, one of the very first animals, our great, great, great, great, great grandparents. We are all hybrids.
We can honour the legacy of our ancestors by nurturing and protecting the biodiversity which is our common heritage. Inspired by ancient Egyptian canopic jars, I have created funerary urns for vulnerable, red-listed species. They act as a symbolic place holders for ongoing extinction in the wild. A loss caused mainly by human activity. The urns serve a dual purpose as repositories for human ashes. Species extinction will ultimately be our own demise as our mutual fates are intertwined.
You are invited to see yourself not as isolated entity but as an integral part of the vast, vibrant tapestry of life which unites every living organism.
Venue: SPACE Curated
Opening: Saturday 23 November 2024 11.30am
Opening Speaker: Dr Anina Lee – Whale Coast Conservation
On until: 23 February 2025
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