​'Gaia' 
​ Luke Jerram.

Such a timely piece in light of the recent comments by Prince William about space exploration. Our planet is truly remarkable and this spectacular installation (here pictured at St Peter Mancroft Church - Photography by Jenny O'Halloran) is a profound reminder of it's plight and Beauty. Best pp 

Gaia is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram. Measuring seven metres in diameter and created from 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface* the artwork provides the opportunity to see our planet, floating in three dimensions. 
The installation aims to create a sense of the Overview Effect, which was first described by author Frank White in 1987. Common features of the experience for astronauts are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment. Watch the great film below about the phenomenon. 
The artwork also acts as a mirror to major events in society. In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the artwork may provide the viewer with a new perspective of our place on the planet; a sense that societies of the Earth are all interconnected and that we have a responsibility toward one another. After the lockdown, there has been a renewed respect for nature.
When presented indoors, the Earth artwork slowly revolves. A specially made surround sound composition by BAFTA award winning Composer Dan Jones is played alongside the sculpture. In Greek Mythology Gaia is the personification of the Earth.
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​Gaia will next be presented in:
‘The World is in You’, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark, 30 September – 16 January 2022
St Peter Mancroft, Norwich, UK, 1 – 31 October 
Light Night Leeds, UK, 14 – 16 October
International Centre for Life, Newcastle, from 16 October
Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, 22 October – 8 November
Spill Festival, Ipswich, UK, 27 – 31 October
Fjord Oslo, Norway, 5 – 7 November 
Keele Chapel, UK, 6 – 28 November
Lumo Light Festival, Finland, 19 – 30 November
Number One Riverside, Rochdale, UK, 20 November – 24 December
Water Cube, Beijing, China, from 1 October 2020 (10 metre Gaia) 

(There are often several Gaia’s touring simultaneously)
Presented previously in:
2021
Metanoia Climate Festival, St Wulfrum’s, Grantham, UK. Charlotte SHOUT! NC, USA. Musica Sacra, Maastricht, Netherlands. Inside Out Dorset, UK. Farout Festival, BASE Milano, Italy. Freedom Festival, Hull, UK. The Wilds at Barking Riverside, London. The Coro, UK. Festival of the Earth, Wakefield, UK. Milton Keynes International Festival, UK. Lights On Romania, Sfântu Gheorghe. Ely Cathedral, UK. GLEX Summit, Lisbon, Portugal. ‘Celeste’ Derriere le Hublot, Figeac, France. Old Royal Naval College, London. Houston Museum of Natural Science, USA. Giornate del Respiro, Sardinia, Italy. Lights On Romania, Timisoara. Leicester Cathedral, UK. Lights On Romania, Satu Mare.
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