This
beautiful Earth artwork has been created by UK artist Luke Jerram in
partnership with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Bluedot Festival and The UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres.
Measuring seven metres in diameter, Earth features detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface.
Bristol-based artist Luke Jerram says: “I wanted to attempt to give the public the opportunity to see the Earth as a sphere, floating in the darkness of space. I hope to convey the fragility and beauty of our planet - our only home. It’s a great pleasure to be working with NERC to help realise this project.”
The
illuminated surface of Earth is created using detailed NASA images of our
planet taken from space and its awe-inspiring presence will be accompanied by the sounds of BAFTA award-winning composer Dan
Jones.
The artwork is 1.8 million times smaller than the real Earth with each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture describing 18 km of the Earth’s surface. By standing 211 m away from the artwork, the public will be able to see the Earth as it appears from the Moon.
Dr Penny Fidler, CEO of ASDC says: "As a nation and as a global society, we have this unique opportunity in the history of Earth. We have the science at our fingertips offering clear guidance around climate showing what we need to do, and we still have the time to take significant steps to change the future.
I hope this beautiful artwork will ignite in people the desire to keep our one precious planet, our home, in a state that allows us all to live happily together on it. We all have the power to inspire others, and right now is the time to put our words into actions."
Press Release
Giant ‘Earth’ artwork shines a light on our environment at the Natural History Museum
A huge glowing Earth will be displayed in the Natural History Museum’s spectacular Hintze Hall, home to Hope the blue whale, today as part of a free ‘Lates’ after hours event entitled, ‘Your Planet Needs You’.
Visitors
to this event will have the opportunity to take part in inspiring
activities and events which explore the challenges facing our planet and how to
overcome them. The Attenborough Studio will feature conversations
with environmental scientists conducting critical research to inform a
future where planet and people thrive.
The seven metre diameter artwork, simply titled ‘Earth’ and commissioned in partnership with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Bluedot Festival and The UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres, is the creation of Bristol-based artist Luke Jerram.
Luke Jerram says: “I wanted to attempt to give the public the opportunity to see the Earth as a sphere, floating in the darkness of space. I hope to convey the fragility and beauty of our planet - our only home. It’s a great pleasure to be working with NERC to help realise this project.”
The illuminated surface of Earth is created using detailed NASA images of our planet taken from space and its awe-inspiring presence will be on display in Hintze Hall accompanied by the sounds of BAFTA award-winning composer Dan Jones.
‘Your Planet Needs You’ is a special Natural History Museum ‘Lates’ event delivered in partnership with NERC. The event will provide a chance for adults to explore the Museum after hours, with food and bar drinks. It will include fun and immersive activities and conversations with some of the UK’s top NERC-funded environmental scientists. Their research ranges from protecting biodiversity in the face of worldwide deforestation for agriculture, to the science behind a satellite monitoring carbon storage in the world’s forests from space and uncovering the impacts of microplastics on the world’s oceans.
Interactive
theatre makers, Coney, will challenge visitors to grapple with some of the
barriers to engaging with environmental issues such as climate change through
creative games and interactive experiences.
Alex
Burch, Head of Exhibitions, Learning and Outreach at the Natural History
Museum, said: “We are thrilled to be hosting Luke Jerram’s Earth as part of our
‘Your Planet Needs You’ Lates evening in collaboration with NERC.
“We hope the thought-provoking installation and programme of activities throughout the evening will inspire visitors to engage in crucially important environmental science, reflect on our planet’s future, and to participate in debates about how we can address these together. Only by building our understanding of the natural world will we find a way to protect it for the future.”
NERC’s Associate Director of Communications and Engagement, Julia Maddock, said: “Art has the power to speak to the heart and mind. We hope Luke’s ‘Earth’ will inspire audiences to meet the challenges we face on our planet, helping us to work together to deliver solutions.”
The Natural History Museum’s ‘Your Planet Needs You’ Lates event will take place on the 30th November, 18.00-22.00 and is free to enter.
Notes for editors
Media contact: Tel: +44 (0) 20 7942 5654/+44 (0) 7799 690151 Email: press@nhm.ac.uk
- The Natural History Museum exists to inspire a love of the natural world and unlock answers to the big issues facing humanity and the planet. It is a world-leading science research centre, and through its unique collection and unrivaled expertise it is tackling issues such as food security, eradicating diseases and managing resource scarcity. The Natural History Museum is the most visited natural history museum in Europe and the top science attraction in the UK; we welcome more than 4.5 million visitors each year and our website receives over 500,000 unique visitors a month. People come from around the world to enjoy our galleries and events and engage both in-person and online with our science and educational activities through innovative programmes and citizen science projects.
- NERC is the UK's main agency for funding and managing research, training and knowledge exchange in the environmental sciences. Our work covers the full range of atmospheric, Earth, biological, terrestrial and aquatic science, from the deep oceans to the upper atmosphere and from the poles to the equator. We coordinate some of the world's most exciting research projects, tackling major issues such as climate change, environmental influences on human health, the genetic make-up of life on Earth, and much more. NERC is part of UK Research & Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government.
- Luke Jerram’s multidisciplinary practice involves the creation of sculptures, installations and live arts projects. Living in the UK but working internationally for more than 20 years, Jerram has created a number of extraordinary art projects which have excited and inspired people around the globe.
- The UK Association for Science andDiscovery Centres (ASDC) is the national charity that brings together the UK’s major science engagement organisations to play a strategic role in the nation’s engagement with science. Within our membership are over 60 of the nation’s largest publically accessible Science Centres, Discovery Centres, Science Museums and scientific bodies. Together our vision is for a society where people of all backgrounds and in all parts of the UK can get involved with the sciences.
Every year in the UK, 20 million people participate in science at one of the UK’s Science and Discovery Centres or Science Museums. This equates to 385,000 people every week who come to our member centres to explore and discuss science and the environment in an involving and personal way. www.sciencecentres.org.uk
Luke's artwork the Museum of the Moon was also created in partnership with ASDC and has caught the public’s imagination and now been experienced by more than 2.5 million people worldwide.
