Londoners turning a corner this week might stumble upon something a bit unexpected. A strange, rocky creature suspended inside a giant, geometric crystal is stopping commuters in their tracks. But, before the conspiracy theorists come out to comment, this isn’t an invasion, but a public art piece celebrating the cinematic release of Project Hail Mary.
People have been gathering around the display, phones in hand, to capture the sight of the film’s alien protagonist and everyone’s favourite Eridian engineer. Known to readers of the book as ‘Rocky‘, the creature’s appearance in the city offers a chance to step into the world of the science-fiction adventure before buying a cinema ticket.
A close encounter on your commute
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The creature is housed within a massive, transparent icosahedron—a 20-sided shape—that is housed at the iconic Shard, in London Bridge.
The sculpture itself captures the unique physiology of the character from Andy Weir’s novel, which the new Ryan Gosling movie is based on, with its craggy, mineral-like texture and five-limbed body.
So, if you’re out and about today or tomorrow (19-20 March) between 10am to 6pm, keep your eyes peeled for this extraterrestrial visitor. It’s a memorable prelude to what promises to be one of the year’s biggest cinematic events, and as the display suggests, it’s one designed for the biggest screen possible.