Image by Luke Jerram
Words by Teddi Barker
As the sun rises on the East Coast on October 1, 2020, residents of Surfers Paradise will awaken to quite the spectacle. Luke Jerram’s Gaia installation will make its East Coast debut from Thursday October 1 to Wednesday October 14, suspended from the outdoor stage of HOTA (Home of the Arts) in the Gold Coast’s beautiful seaside city.
Gaia is the ancient Greek personification of Earth, a celestial body which houses all life. True to its name, Jerram’s instalment embodies this divinity, and whether viewed by day – hovering above a lake – or early evening beneath the emerging stars, it offers a tranquil place to reflect and observe the delicate beauty of Earth. The installation will also be accompanied by a program of events including classical music, contemporary dance and more. Opening hours and ticket prices are yet to be announced.
Luke Jerram is a UK-based multidisciplinary artist who has created sculptures, installations and live artworks that have taken the world by storm. In 2019, Jerram was elected Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. His appreciation for the world on a larger scale is evident in his installations, especially Gaia and its companion, Museum of the Moon, which have toured across the globe.
Jerram’s installation is 7m in diameter and displays 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of Earth’s surface. Though the overall exhibition varies with every new location, visitors will always have the pleasure of experiencing surround sound compositions by BAFTA award-winning composer Dan Jones. Whilst still a large display, Jerram’s Gaia is 1.8 million times smaller than the real Earth. The installation captures the beauty and fragility of the planet, and also aims to promote a united will to protect our only home.
Considering current major events in society, the installation may provide the viewer with a renewed appreciation for nature and a glimpse at the ‘Overview Effect’ (a term coined to describe the sensation astronauts experience when peering down at Earth for the first time). When faced with this phenomenon, national boundaries seem to disappear, as does the importance of conflicts that divide us.
The Earth is nothing but a small blue dot. But this small blue dot has given us life. The Gaia installation brings people together and provides them with a place to reflect and find peace.
For more information regarding the premiere including tickets, opening hours and the program of events, visit HOTA's site HERE.
