Just when you think you’ve seen it all from Luke Jerram, he surprises us again and again. The Bristol artist has enthralled audiences all over the UK with his touring artwork of the Sun, Helios. But he’s making new waves with the mesmerising artwork by exhibiting it over a swimming pool.
In a world-first exhibition, the fusion of solar imagery, animated lighting and a surround sound composition has been installed at Jubilee Pool in Knowle. You can experience Helios from both the water and the land at the community-run swimming pool, from Monday, January 19 to Sunday, February 8.
Luke Jerram says: “I’m really excited by the opportunity to present Helios in a swimming pool for the first time and allow people to swim beneath it. While I work as an artist both nationally and internationally, I’m also a Bristol-based artist, so I’m pleased that this artwork can be used to support my local community-led pool.”
What is Helios?
Following the successful astronomical Museum of the Moon and Gaia exhibitions, Helios is a touring artwork of the Sun. Measuring five metres in diameter, it features 72dpi detailed imagery of the Sun’s surface at an approximate scale of 1:278 million, with each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture representing 2780km of the Sun.
How can I see Helios at Jubilee Pool?
Helios will be on display for all lane and leisure swims, plus aquafit classes and swimming lessons. On top, special sessions see the main lights dimmed, the sculpture will be lit up, and the soundscape playing—to swim it will cost £8, but if you prefer to see it from the land, you can walk around poolside for £3.
“We’re so excited that Luke has chosen Jubilee Pool for this world-first way of displaying Helios,” says Jules Laming, chair of Friends of Jubilee Pool. “Jubilee’s curved Art Deco windows already cast sunlight across the water in a beautiful way, and we can’t wait to see how Helios complements this.”
Tickets will be released every week, with all money raised from Helios going back into Jubilee Pool, which is fundraising for roof repairs and adding solar panels. To learn more about Helios at Jubilee Pool, head here.