A spectacular illuminated sculpture of the Sun is currently mesmerizing visitors at Kedleston Hall, a historic stately home in Derbyshire, England. The impressive artwork, created by renowned artist Luke Jerram, has been named 'Helios' after the ancient Greek god of the sun and offers viewers an unprecedented opportunity to examine our nearest star up close.
The sculpture has been meticulously scaled so that each centimeter represents 2,000 kilometers of the Sun's actual surface, providing visitors with a scientifically accurate representation of the massive celestial body. The National Trust, which co-commissioned this remarkable project, announced that Helios will remain on display at Kedleston Hall through November 2.
Zoe Stevens, the experience and programming manager at Kedleston Hall, expressed her enthusiasm about visitors' reactions to the installation. "People aren't expecting it to be quite so big and impressive in that space," Stevens noted, explaining that she particularly enjoys watching people's initial responses when they first encounter the sculpture. The artwork has been strategically placed within the hall to maximize its visual impact and create a truly immersive experience.
The artistic creation goes beyond mere visual appeal, incorporating cutting-edge technology and authentic scientific data. "Helios has been created using lots of imagery of the Sun and it's got a soundscape provided by NASA, which helps us get to know the Sun a bit better closer up," Stevens explained. This combination of visual artistry and authentic space agency audio creates a multi-sensory experience that both educates and inspires visitors.
The project represents a collaborative effort involving multiple prestigious institutions. Stevens revealed that the sculpture was also commissioned by Cork Midsummer Festival, Liverpool Cathedral, Old Royal Naval College, and University College London, demonstrating the widespread recognition of the artwork's cultural and educational value.
Visitors have been overwhelmingly positive in their responses to the installation. Keith Covell, a 56-year-old visitor from Derby, described the sculpture as "pretty magnificent." He added, "It's slightly enclosed within that room but it gives you a really good idea about what the Sun is like close up." Another visitor, Jeanette Phoenix, 53, from Spondon, was equally impressed, stating, "It's absolutely amazing, it really looks good in the hall - it's framed beautifully. The music's calm as well as the movement of the Sun. Looking up underneath it was really nice."
Kedleston Hall serves as the final destination in Helios's extensive tour of National Trust properties, which began in January. Stevens emphasized the significance of being chosen as the tour's concluding venue, noting the sculpture's impact on both visitors and staff. "It's absolutely amazing watching people's reactions as they come and stand in the doorway of the saloon room - they see the scale of it," she observed. "We've absolutely loved having it. I feel like it's energized everybody."
The installation represents more than just an artistic display; it serves as an educational tool that makes astronomical concepts accessible to the general public. By combining accurate scientific data with artistic presentation, Helios bridges the gap between art and science, offering visitors a unique opportunity to contemplate our solar system's central star in a completely new way. The sculpture's placement in the historic setting of Kedleston Hall creates a striking contrast between classical architecture and contemporary artistic interpretation of cosmic phenomena.
