Origin of 'Man'

This work was inspired by Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, but reimagined through the lens of modern science and natural philosophy. I asked: If we were to depict a metaphorical Adam based on what we now know, what would he look like?

Several constraints emerged: 

He must be Black and placed in East Africa - the cradle of humanity. His form should reflect the environmental extremes that drive Darwinian evolution, so I set him at the intersection of drought and storm. Light had to be present, as it is the catalyst of life. He is life-size, allowing the viewer to meet him on equal terms. His posture is stoic rather than triumphant, reflecting a philosophy of endurance - one that has sustained humanity through adversity. Finally, he is made entirely of sand and dirt, because that is what we are: matter animated by possibility. We are the effect of the universe exploring the space of possibilities.