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Mario Merz first used the Fibonacci series in his works in 1970. The series was conceived in the 13th century by Leonardo da Pisa, who was also known as Fibonacci. Each number in the series is determined by the sum of the two numbers that precede it: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, etc. Merz was fascinated by the series and its association with organic and biological growth.

Merz often used the Fibonacci series as a bridge between art and life. He frequently juxtaposed progressions of numbers in the series, suggesting an opening of the work onto the infinite, with organic objects that are finite, as underscored by the taxidermy reindeer head in this work. The neon tubing in which the numbers are written represent the permanent state of nature’s energetic growth.