A touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram
22 September – 5 November | Open during visitor opening hours.
Contemplate our fragile blue planet from a different perspective, usually reserved for astronauts.
Measuring seven metres in diameter and suspended inside the nave of Lichfield Cathedral, Gaia features high-resolution NASA imagery of Earth’s surface*; an opportunity to see our planet floating and rotating in three dimensions.
Gaia creates a sense of the ‘Overview Effect,’ which was first described by author Frank White in 1987. Common features of this 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.
Evening events
Friday - Sunday from 22 September - 29 October 19:00-21:00 (excl. 8/13/14/22 October)
Monday 30 October - Sunday 5 November 19:00-21:00 (excl. 2 November)
Come along for one of the special evening events to see GAIA and the Journey Through Creation installations when the Cathedral would usually be closed.
Internally lit, Gaia comes into its own during the evening, with a more profound sense of what it might be like to see Earth from space and accompanied by a surround sound composition created by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award-winning composer Dan Jones.
The Cathedral Gift Shop will be open for a whole range of wonderful gifts, decorations, and cards and the team from Bistro No.19 will be serving refreshments and snacks.
Adults £5.00 (Aged 16+)
Children £3.00 (Under 16s)
under 3s go FREE - please book a free ticket
Please read the FAQs and Terms and Conditions before booking.
Gaia has been created in partnership with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Bluedot and the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres.
*The imagery for the artwork has been compiled from Visible Earth series, NASA.
Photo: Gaia, 2019 (c) W5, Belfast
Photo Banner: Gaia at Liverpool Cathedral for Liverpool City Council's River Festival. Photo by Gareth Jones.