What does it mean to be human? The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins, built an entire new exhibit around this question. The immersive experience, projected on a massive curved screen, begins in present day and spans back 7 million years, presenting several human species, and the natural environments they would have survived in. We were commissioned to create nine 3D photorealistic early human ancestors, as well as matte paintings showcasing the ecosystem and environment which would have shaped their evolution. This piece continues to be one of the most popular features of the hall.
In addition, we were tasked with creating an exact replica of the skull of Sahelanthropus Tchadensis, a common ancestor which predates all hominid fossils found to date. Built in 3D and printed as a real-life tactual, this down-to-the-millimetre replica is currently encased and displayed in situ at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Models by Eugene Mishibinijima and Guillaume Molle.