Helios: An Art Installation Of The Sun By Luke Jerram
Monday 1 February – Sunday 28 February 2027 | During standard open hours | Exeter Cathedral
This February, do something totally unique: experience the Sun at Exeter Cathedral.
You are warmly invited to get up close to UK artist Luke Jerram’s magnificent Helios artwork – a 1:200 million scale replica of the Sun, where every centimetre represents 2,000km of its surface.
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About the artwork
Given the dangers of looking directly at the Sun, Helios provides you with a safe opportunity to inspect its extraordinarily detailed surface, including sunspots, spicules, filaments and, remarkably, the source of the solar flares which caused the Northern lights to be visible from the UK in May 2024.
“The imagery for the artwork has been compiled using approximately 400,000 photographs of the Sun provided by Astrophotographer Dr Stuart Green (taken between May 2018 to June 2024) and NASA observations of the Sun, with guidance from solar scientist, Professor Lucie Green of University College London (UCL). The sculpture also features the source of the solar flares which caused the Northern lights to be visible from the UK in May 2024.” – Luke Jerram
Not only will you learn about the science of the sun, but you may find yourself appreciating its importance for your life and others; for light, warmth, energy for our planet and how it has inspired culture and religion throughout history, all around the world.
The installation is a fusion of solar imagery, animated lighting and a specially created sound composition by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson. The imagery for the artwork has been compiled using photographs of the Sun provided by Astrophotographer Dr Stuart Green (taken between May 2018 to June 2024) and NASA observations of the Sun, with guidance from solar scientist, Professor Lucie Green of University College London (UCL).
Helios has been co-commissioned by National Trust, Cork Midsummer Festival, Liverpool Cathedral, Old Royal Naval College and University College London.
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About the artist
Luke Jerram’s multidisciplinary practice involves the creation of sculptures, installations and live arts projects. Living in the UK but working internationally since 1997, Jerram has created a number of extraordinary art projects which have excited and inspired people around the globe. In 2019, Luke Jerram was elected Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Helios follows on from Luke’s other astronomical artworks Museum of the Moon, Gaia, and Mars.
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Cover photo: James Dobson, National Trust Images