This morphological progression runs from point, to line, to sphere, through the opposing dialectic of phallic and ovoid shapes, using natural and man-made objects, starting with a pea and ending with a ball. It presents a reconsidered model of evolution in which Darwin’s process of natural selection includes man-made nature, where the creative and the destructive co-exist.

I wanted to re-formulate the relationship between subject and referent. All of these cases contain their referent, thereby simultaneously presenting and re-presenting an object whilst at the same time hiding it from view. Items 12 and 13 are respectively a grenade and a goose egg, the two forms which are the most morphologically identical, but the most extremely opposed.

Natural Selection Works

, 1981, lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

Natural Selection

, 1981, (detail: pea), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: pencil), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: carrot), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: chisel), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: banana), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: vibrator), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: courgette), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: bradawl), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: gherkin), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: plumb bob), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: goose egg), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: grenade), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: lemon), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: lightbulb), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: pear), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: paintbrush), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: parsnip), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: prestle), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: marrow), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: Chianti bottle), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: coconut), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: ball of string), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: melon), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

, 1981, (detail: rubber ball), lead tools, fruits, weapons, vegetables and objects, length: approx. 10 metres. Tate Collection, London, England.

Natural Selection Works

Related content

Sculpture

Still Moving

Antony Gormley