Following the success of renowned UK artist Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon at St Albans Cathedral, St Albans Museum & Gallery now turns its gaze to the Sun – unveiling Helios, Jerram’s extraordinary and immersive installation that promises to bathe the city in brilliance. Free to the public, the artwork will be on display from Saturday, December 27 2025, to Sunday, January 25, 2026.
Helios, which in ancient Greek mythology is the God who personifies the Sun, invites visitors to reflect on the immense power of Earth’s star while celebrating science and art in equal measure.
Farhana Begum, Arts, Tourism, Heritage and Culture Manager at St Albans City & District Council, and Head of St Albans Museums, said: “January can often feel a bit gloomy, so we hope this solar spectacle brings a burst of brightness to everyone who visits.
“It’s the perfect moment for people to experience an installation that both educates and inspires. By bringing this monumental Sun sculpture, Helios, into the grand Assembly Room, we’re offering a unique and uplifting experience for families, schools, art lovers and curious minds alike.”
Helios is a dramatic six-metre-diameter spherical sculpture of the Sun. At an approximate scale of 1:230 million, every centimetre of the internally lit sphere represents roughly 2,300 km of the Sun’s surface.
The surface imagery is composed of 72 dpi high-resolution photographs of the Sun, compiled from 400,000 of astrophotographer Dr Stuart Green’s images (taken between May 2018 and June 2024) and NASA observations, with guidance from solar scientist Professor Lucie Green of University College London.
Because looking directly at the Sun is unsafe, Helios offers a unique and imaginative opportunity to explore the Sun’s features, including its sunspots, spicules, filaments, and even the source region of the solar flares that produced the Northern Lights visible from the UK in May 2024.
Multidisciplinary artist, Luke Jerram, said: “The importance of the Sun for all life on planet Earth cannot be understated. Highly venerated and influencing humanity since the dawn of time, it has fascinated scientists, inspired musicians, poets and artists, in societies right across the world.
“The position of the Sun in relation to the Earth alters constantly and as such, this relationship has been used as a timekeeper, defining our measurement of time and calendars throughout the ages.
“As well as provoking a sense of awe and wonder with the opportunity to see our most important celestial body up close, I hope that Helios will prompt important discussion about different issues, such as the environment, physical and mental health and wellbeing. Presenting Helios in the middle of winter, when it’s cold outside and sunshine is scarce, might have the potential to make visitors feel better!”
Jerram’s installation is enhanced by a specially-crafted surround-sound composition by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson – artists who are known for creating sonic-experiences that engage audiences – fusing solar imagery, light and sound into a transcendent visitor experience.
Visitors can enjoy a lively programme of events alongside the display, perfect for all ages seeking warmth, light, and connection.
To find out more visit: https://shorturl.at/d1vHr or www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk
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