LIFE: A Journey Through Time Offers a Photographic Celebration of the Wonder of Life on Earth

New Discovery Place exhibition opens May 25

May 16, 2011

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The transformation of Earth and its natural phenomena is showcased in an epic photography project called LIFE: A Journey Through Time, opening at Discovery Place Wednesday, May 25. An interpretation of life on Earth from its earliest beginnings to its present diversity, the exhibition is an original multimedia presentation that blends art, science, and the imagery of acclaimed National Geographic wildlife photographer Frans Lanting.

In 2000, Lanting began a seven-year photographic journey across the continents on a mission to spotlight new scientific insights and the history of life forms. Realizing that species offer a window into how time has altered living creatures as well as the ever-changing shape of the planet itself, he set out to document his encounters. His quest for stunning visual images took him across primordial landscapes and through unique museum collections of fossils and microscopic life. His destinations included some of the desolate and rugged areas of the globe, including Siberia’s Kamchatka Peninsula and remote Western Australia where life-forms three billion years old still dominate the landscape.

“Nature in most places appears as a chaotic mosaic of species that live together in the present but have their origins in different times,” said Lanting. “My challenge was to untangle nature from its entwinements in the present and represent the strands separately and chronologically. My goal was to create a sequence of images that can be viewed as slices through time.”

Lanting’s resulting compilation of 64 large format images in brilliant detail offers a lyrical interpretation of the global evolution of life from its earliest beginnings. Each photographic panel displays interpretive captions explaining the photographer’s vision, how the images were created and their significance to the story. The exhibition organizes the photographs in terms of five basic elements that Lanting says make up the universe: earth, water, fire, air and space. The journey begins with the transformation of single-celled organisms into more advanced oceanic life forms and early land creatures, followed by more modern and exotic images of animal adaptations and stunning natural wonders. His images range from giant tortoises and prehistoric trilobites, to delicate jellies and spiny octopus trees, and from erupting volcanoes to shimmering coral reefs.

“The LIFE exhibition is a gallery display that walks the line between science and art,” said John Mackay, president and CEO of Discovery Place. “It is a beautiful celebration of the planet and its history that demonstrates the remarkable magnitude of our world’s biodiversity.”

LIFE: A Journey Through Time, is on display at Discovery Place May 25 – September 5, 2011 and is free with Museum admission. Photography is not allowed. For more information about the exhibition visit lifethroughtime.com.

About Discovery Place

One of the top hands-on science museums in the nation, Discovery Place provides ever-changing, entertaining facilities that engage the public in the active exploration of science and nature. More than a half-million people from all over the United States visit Discovery Place, its IMAX® Dome Theatre and Charlotte Nature Museum each year. In June 2010, the Museum completed an 18-month, $31.6 million renovation, resulting in a completely transformed and re-imagined experience with all-new interactive exhibits. Discovery Place is supported, in part, with operating support from the Arts & Science Council. Connect with Discovery Place on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Discovery Place is located in uptown Charlotte at 301 N. Tryon Street. Convenient parking is available in the Museum’s parking deck – the Carol Grotnes Belk Complex – at the corner of Sixth and Church Streets. For more information about Discovery Place call (704) 372-6261 or visit discoveryplace.org.

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“No one turns animals into art more completely than Frans Lanting.”
—The NewYorker

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