The Natural History Museum, London. © NHM

Turner Prize winners Mark Wallinger and Rachel Whiteread are two of the artists on a shortlist of ten leading names who could be creating a major new artwork for the Natural History Museum (NHM) in honour of Charles Darwin.

The museum is commissioning a permanent work inspired by Darwin’s theory of evolution to be installed in its mock-gothic Kensington building, as part of the celebrations marking 200 years since Darwin’s birth.

The shortlist announcement has been made on the eve of Darwin’s 199th birthday – February 12 2008. The chosen work will become part of the ceiling of an inner gallery in the Grade I listed museum.

“What I find most exciting about this shortlist is that each artist takes a very distinct approach,” said Bergit Arends, curator of contemporary art at the Natural History Museum. “I’m looking forward to seeing their ideas take shape.”

The shortlisted artists are: Christine Borland, Dorothy Cross, Mark Fairnington, Tania Kovats, Alison Turnbull, United Visual Artists (Matt Clark and Chris Bird), Mark Wallinger, Richard Woods, Richard Wentworth and Rachel Whiteread.

Charles Darwin, the man behind the theory of evolution. Courtesy Bromley Council

The NHM will work with the artists on their proposals for ‘Darwin’s Canopy’, inspired by Darwin’s ideas and what they mean for our understanding of nature and our place within it today.

Initial sketches and mock-ups will go on public display at the museum on June 4 2008 for three months, and a judging panel of art critics and curators will select the winner. The final work will be unveiled on February 12 2009 – the bicentenary of Darwin’s birth.

“This commission is a once in a lifetime opportunity to contribute to the fabric of this historic building,”continued Bergit. “We hope it will offer all the artists the chance to explore new territory and concepts, and present their work to a different audience.”

Running in parallel to the London project is a residency programme for British artists to spend time in the Galapagos Islands, which helped Darwin to formulate his theory. Up to 12 leading artists will be able to reflect on the Galapagos’ unique nature and historic value, as well as the conservation challenges the archipelago now faces. The programme, established by the Galapagos Conservation Trust, will run for three years.

Both projects have been generously funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, and are part of the national Darwin200 programme.