Gaia is a spectacular model of our planet which wowed visitors in summer 2020 – and now it’s back for round 2!
Only astronauts can really know the indescribable feeling of being able to see the Earth in its entirety, but Londoners are about to get something approaching the same experience. That’s because artist Luke Jerram has brought his huge, illuminated 3D model of our planet – named Gaia – back to Greenwich’s mesmerising Painted Hall, having already mesmerised visitors during last summer. Aside from being highly ‘grammable, the model is also likely to give you a newfound appreciation for our incredible world, and whilst the dedicated Friday evening tickets have now sold out, we have a nifty little hack. Pick up a general access ticket to The Painted Hall from now until July 1, and you’ll be able to see Gaia in all its glory!
Jerram has something of an obsession with celestial bodies; he brought a beautiful model of the Moon to the Royal Observatory a few years ago, which was also seen hanging out at the Natural History Museum. For Gaia, Jerram used detailed NASA imagery of the planet’s surface to create the 3D model, and to give the impression of the globe floating in space. Gaia was designed with the aim of representing the fragility and interconnections between all life on Earth, and takes inspiration from both scientific discoveries and mythological representations of the planet.
Such an enchanting exhibit is likely to leave you spellbound, and that’s before we even mention the location. The Painted Hall – with floor-to-ceiling Baroque murals – is an unforgettable place in its own right, so sticking a giant Earth in it isn’t something you’re likely to forget in a hurry. You’ll be able to catch Gaia throughout June, with tickets on sale here. After that, you can figure out how you’re going to tear yourself away from the enchanting floating globe at the night’s end…
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