Stages of the Helix

Stages of the Helix is a continuation of Franco Castelluccio’s exploration into the evolution of human empathy and connection, inspired by his monumental work The Double Helix – Mutation of Increased Compassion.

Each figure within the Helix represents a different moment in humanity’s moral and emotional evolution — a visual metaphor for the transformation from instinctual survival to conscious compassion. The work examines the idea that natural selection has adapted, not only favoring the strong, but also those capable of empathy, endurance, and unity.

“Salvation” — At the point of deepest struggle, a figure senses the suffering of another. In that instant, compassion overrides instinct — the true mutation begins. “Endurance of the compassionate” replaces “survival of the fittest.”

“Triplets” and “Three Graces” — Through empathy, the figures begin to ascend together, forming an interdependent bond. Their unity, strength, and shared compassion elevate them along the spiral of the Helix, symbolizing humankind’s evolution toward a more conscious collective.

In these ascending stages, Castelluccio captures the divine progression of the human spirit — as endurance, compassion, and connection become the forces that ensure the survival of all.