Helios is heading west following its London premiere at the Painted Hall
After bringing Helios, a seven-metre sculpture of the sun, to the Painted Hall in Greenwich’s Old Royal Naval College at the start of the year, multidisciplinary artist Luke Jerram is taking it west. The piece will be on display at Osterley Park and House, outside the 18th century portico of the neo-classical mansion, across two stints this summer and will be free to view.
Like Jerram’s other astronomical installations, Museum of the Moon, Mars and Gaia, Helios, named after the Greek and Roman sun god, is an incredibly detailed, internally lit model of the sun. At a scale of 1:200 million (that means every centimetre of the model represents 200km of the sun), it’s been made using photographs by NASA and Astrophotographer Dr Stuart Green and allows you to get up close to the surface of the star – yes this is one sun you can actually stare at. Accompanied by a surround sound composition created by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson, Helios is an immersive experience that will allow you appreciate the power of the sun and the impact it has on human life and our mental wellbeing.
Speaking about the installation, Jerram said: “We all know that it is very dangerous to look directly at the sun, as it can damage our eyesight. Helios provides a safe opportunity for the public to get up close to, and inspect, its extraordinarily detailed surface including sunspots, spicules and filaments.
“The Northern Lights are one of the greatest wonders and displays of art in the natural world. I’ve incorporated the source of the solar flares which caused this phenomenon to be visible over the UK in May 2024.
“I hope that the soundscape, lighting and sheer scale of Helios will combine to make an extraordinary and uplifting experience for the public and I cannot wait to see it showcased in some of the most wonderful locations around England, Wales and Northern Ireland.”
Key Information
Dates | Fri 6th – Mon 9th June and Fri 11th – Mon 14th July 2025
Address | Osterley Park and House, Jersey Rd, Isleworth TW7 4RB
For more information | nationaltrust.org.uk