Alexis Rago

Alexis Rago is an artist who over the years has come to reference his studies in biology as a primary source of inspiration in synthesizing a vision that brings together science and art. At first his works might appear of religious origin but in fact owe their existence to the artist's interest in evolution. His practice is a form of meditation each piece evolving from previous works, developing ideal models from within biological notions in a Wunderkammer of speculation on the deep past. There is a sense that these are not only secular icons but indeed devotional objects dedicated to an idea that has changed our sense of place since Darwin first published "˜Origin of Species' over 150 years ago. Conceived of as a natural history his work also draws from ethnography, archaeology and the history of biological thought. It is an evolving secular reliquary or sacred natural history in which icons or votive offerings reflect an ambivalence towards the veneration of ideas whilst challenging anthropocentric expressions of humanity's sense of place.