[All images courtesy of The National Trust]
Whatever the weather, sunshine is guaranteed at least, at one of the city’s most historic buildings.
The National Trust has announced it will be displaying Bristol-based artist Luke Jerram’s newest sculpture, Helios, at locations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The tour will start with the 7-metre sculpture suspended in the Georgian Ball Room at Bath Assembly Rooms – the room where Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and thousands of others have been captivated by arts and cultural performances over the decades.
Helios fuses solar imagery, sunlight and a specially created surround sound composition, including NASA recordings of the sun, by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson.
At an approximate scale of 1:200 million, each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 200km of the sun’s surface.
Located in the heart of Bath, the Assembly Rooms are currently undergoing a £17m project to restore the splendour of the building and create a new visitor attraction.
The Assembly Rooms is open today (Saturday, January 11th) and tomorrow – Sunday 12th January – for free. Visitors will also be able to experience Helios on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 January and every day between 30 January – 23 February.
Helios will then be installed at some of the charity’s most breathtaking locations, including Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire and Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire, where it will be a focal point for the property’s popular Diwali celebrations.
Commenting on Helios, the Trust’s Director of Access and Conservation John Orna-Ornstein said: ‘Working with Luke has been such a natural fit for the Trust. Both passionate about the climate crisis and ensuring that as many people can access the arts and culture as possible, Helios presented the ideal opportunity to collaborate.
‘Helios provides a simple and bold way to connect the public to the National Trust’s ambitions for the coming 10 years, heralded in its new strategy. It will provide a dramatic focal point for specifically created events and programming, as we seek to engage more people with the benefits of experiencing nature and culture.
‘We will be showcasing the installation alongside our partners, local councils and others we work with, to ensure that more people than ever can connect with, and be inspired by, great works of art.’
Helios artist Luke Jerram said: ‘We all know that it is very dangerous to look directly at the sun, as it can damage our eyesight. Helios provides a safe opportunity for the public to get up close to, and inspect, its extraordinarily detailed surface including sunspots, spicules and filaments.
‘The Northern Lights are one of the greatest wonders and displays of art in the natural world. I’ve incorporated the source of the solar flares which caused this phenomenon to be visible over the UK in May 2024.
‘I hope that the soundscape, lighting and sheer scale of Helios will combine to make an extraordinary and uplifting experience for the public and I cannot wait to see it showcased in some of the most wonderful locations around England, Wales and Northern Ireland.’
Helios continues a long legacy at the National Trust of presenting new and historic art to visitors. For centuries, guests to places now in the Trust’s care were captivated by artworks displayed in houses, gardens and parklands.
Today’s visitors can enjoy those same treasures and experience new artistic interventions designed to complement the historic collection. The presentation of Helios will shine a light on the places the Trust cares for and the benefit they offer the nation through the organisations and community groups the charity works with.
Tom Boden, General Manager for Bath Assembly Rooms said ‘It’s an enormous honour to be the launch venue. Luke’s artworks are visually stunning and a fantastic conversation starter for some of the really pressing issues affecting society today. It feels timely that we are able to bring Helios to Bath, when we are about to embark on an ambitious project for the Assembly Rooms, that will reaffirm its key role as a place of connection.
‘I can’t wait for visitors to immerse themselves in this sensory experience. The diversity of other locations Helios will be installed at will mean that every time someone witnesses it, they will have a totally different but no less inspiring experience.’
Helios will be heading to Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland, after Bath. All tour dates and locations will be announced via nationaltrust.org.uk/helios.
PS. Remember this? © Tate Modern
