ABOUT THIS COLLECTION
Homo sapiens are the only survivors of a once diverse group of ape-like and more modern hominins, collectively known as the hominins. So far the group includes around 20 known species.  What did those hominins look like? Paleo-artist John Gurche used the latest forensic techniques and fossil discoveries to create lifelike head reconstructions of early humans.
 
The Hominins Collection by John Gurche gives collectors a unique opportunity to get up close with our earliest ancestors and learn about human evolution. The collection consists of 12 painstakingly researched faces, 8 of which are on display in the Smithsonian Institution’s Hall of Human Origins.
 
COLLECTION DETAILS  
Series title: Hominins
Series size: 12 artworks
Edition: Limited edition of 88
Proof of Ownership: Certification on the Ethereum blockchain under the ERC1155 protocol. Each artwork is delivered privately and directly to collectors as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that guarrante proof of ownership.
Format: Pieces consist of mp4 looping video files sized 2160x2160 pixels - 150 dpi.
Medium: digital photography, post-production coloring, animation
Artwork materials:  clay, casting, 3D printing, silicone, acrylic, paint, bear hair, human hair
Contract Address: 0x495f947276749ce646f68ac8c248420045cb7b5e
ID: 2749212597480566...
 
ABOUT THE ARTIST  
One of the world’s foremost artists of human evolution, John Gurche’s work has appeared in 12 issues, including four covers, of National Geographic Magazine. It is also on display at the American Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum, and museums around the world. The Smithsonian’s Hall of Human Origins features 15 of his hominin reconstructions, eight of which appear in this collection. His work is based on more than 30 years of study of great ape and human anatomy, as well as study of original hominin fossils in Africa, Europe and Asia.
 
Using skeleton and soft-tissue anatomy, he painstakingly reconstructs the appearance of individuals in the human lineage. “Each reconstruction develops as a cumulative result of hundreds of anatomical decisions. I have a worksheet that’s 104 pages long, full of data and equations, that I use when I reconstruct a face,” he says. Currently artist-in-residence at the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, New York, he is the author of two books: Shaping Humanity: How Science, Art and Imagination Help Us Understand Our Origins; and Lost Anatomies: The Evolution of the Human Form.
 
COLLECTION CREDITS  
Concept: HARI - Historical Art Research Institute (HARI Editions)
Production: HARI - Historical Art Research Institute (HARI Editions)
Creative direction: Victor Zabrockis & Marie-Lou Desmeules
Artwork: John Gurche
Post-production: Bwater Studios
Editorial: Braden Phillips
Executive production: Victor Zabrockis
 
RIGHTS OVERVIEW  
Source of artwork: Original artwork by artist commissioned by HARI Editions
Underlying work rights: All rights reserved ©2022 HARI - Historical Art Research Institute (HARI Editions)
Digital copyrights: All rights reserved ©2022 HARI - Historical Art Research Institute (HARI Editions)