Jewellery by Priya

For this piece the brief was to design and produce a medal cast in either silver or bronze.  The medal was to be two sided, each side complimenting each other to construct a meaning or intent.  The medal had to be first carved in wax, and then cast so that it could be easily reproduced.  The surface could be decorated and patinated to give contrast and highlight text and detail.

My medal was designed to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s controversial book ‘On the Origin of Species’.  Most religions including Christianity state that earth and its inhabitants were created by God.  In his book, Darwin stated “from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and wonderful have been, and are being, evolved”.  Despite 150 years of evidence supporting this theory, and being accepted by scientists, many people today still remain sceptical.  In 2009 The Church of England and The Vatican finally acknowledged Darwin’s theory saying “the idea of evolution has a place in Christian theology”.  ‘The Hand of God’ is pointing to the other side of the medal, which is shaped like a crucifix with this quote from Darwin’s book.  My medal celebrates this momentous union of science and religion.