Art / Aerospace Bristol
Giant Mars installation coming to Bristol
A new exhibition will showcase a seven-metre replica of the planet Mars.
The huge sculpture is the work of internationally-renowned artist, Luke Jerram, and is being displayed at Aerospace Bristol in May.
The planet will be suspended above the world-famous Concorde, the last ever one to fly the skies.
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At seven metres in diameter, the internally lit Mars sculpture boasts highly detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface. At an approximate scale of 1:1 million, each centimetre of the spherical sculpture represents 10km of the surface of Mars.
Visitors will get the chance to observe Mars from all angles, and take in the valleys, craters, volcanoes and mountains which are represented in spectacular detail.
The installation allows a close encounter with the Martian planet – photo: Luke Jerram
Luke Jerram, who has created a number of astronomical artworks in the past such as the Museum of the Moon and Gaia, said the piece “allows a close encounter with the planet”.
“I hope that visitors will feel transported to its inhospitable desert wasteland and in comparison, really value our life on Earth.”
Jerram’s Mars installation forms part of the museum’s exhibition ‘Journey to Mars’, which will mark the 20th anniversary of Mars Express, the European Space Agency’s first ever mission to the red planet.
Models of the Mars Express Orbiter and the Beagle 2 lander will also be on display for space enthusiasts to enjoy.
Beagle 2 lander was a built in the UK and was successfully deployed from Mars Express in 2003. Led by Bristol born scientist, Colin Pillinger, the Beagle 2 was intended to carry out an astrobiology mission that would have searched for evidence of life on the Red Planet.
Amy Seadon, head of collections at the museum said: “Aerospace Bristol can’t wait to mark the 20th anniversary of Mars Express and highlight Bristol’s important contribution to the European Space Agency’s first ever planetary mission.
“It’s a fascinating story, the Mars artwork is going to look incredible alongside Concorde, and I think visitors will love exploring the surface of Mars as if they were looking down at the planet from the Mars Express Orbiter.”
The exhibition runs from May 4 to June 5.
Read more:
- ‘Grave concerns’ about £470,000 bailout of Aerospace Bristol
- Remembering the Bristol scientist who played a key role in a Mars landing
- First look inside the house designed for life on Mars
- New CEO for Aerospace Bristol
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