Luke Jerram: Gaia

Measuring seven metres in diameter, Gaia, a touring artwork by artist Luke Jerram, gives you a unique opportunity to see our planet on an epic scale.

The installation features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface,* creating a sense of the ‘overview effect’: that feeling of utter awe astronauts have said they feel when viewing Earth from space.

That effect, first described by author Frank White in 1987, sparks a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment.

The artwork is 1.8 million times smaller than the real Earth and each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture corresponds to 18km of the Earth’s surface.

Stand at a distance of 211metres away from the artwork, and you’ll see the Earth as it appears from the moon.

In Greek mythology, Gaia is the personification of the Earth. Jerram’s sculpture is at once visually stunning and an ever-timely prompt to consider our own relationships with the Earth.

A specially made surround sound composition by BAFTA award-winning composer Dan Jones is played alongside the sculpture.

Since 1997, UK-based artist Luke Jerram has maintained a multidisciplinary practice of sculptures, installations and live arts projects, spanning nearly 1,000 exhibitions worldwide. His work often addresses challenging concepts and planetary health. Major projects like Gaia, Oil Fountain and This Way Forward prompt critical discussions about climate change and sustainability. Based in Bristol, Jerram is also a philanthropist who supports art graduates and schools, formalising his charitable efforts through the establishment of the Jerram Foundation in 2024.

Gaia has been created in partnership with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Bluedot and the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres. With supporting partners Culture Liverpool and Liverpool Cathedral.

*The imagery for the artwork has been compiled from Visible Earth series, NASA.