A montage created from my photograph of a triceratops fossil head superimposed on an image developed from the same photograph put through a series of fractal transformations. The fractal threw up what look like embedded fossils in a highly pleasing way. This exuberant variant in multi-colours on a cream background hides the head and turns the vertical horn into something resembling a spire.

There are moments when science and beauty align with startling clarity. Encountering the fossilized skull of a triceratops at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden was one of them. Its presence—massive, weathered, and exquisitely detailed—left a lasting impression that led to a series of montage artworks exploring the meeting point of natural history and digital design. In this piece, a photograph of the skull was processed through a fractal algorithm, using the fossil itself as source material. The result revealed complex, stone-like patterns that echo the deep time from which the fossil emerged. What emerged feels both ancient and algorithmic—an interplay of biology, geology, and generative form. The work reflects resilience: of the fossil, of scientific endeavour, and of art’s capacity to reimagine the past. It invites reflection on transformation—and on the quiet, enduring power found when disciplines collide.