Chester and Liverpool Cathedral – More Art

27th March 2019

More art in our cathedrals…

Former Turner prize nominee, David Mach returns to Chester Cathedral to build a live installation and Luke Jerram brings Liverpool Cathedral down to Earth after his successful Museum of the Moon last year.

David Mach RA has chosen Chester Cathedral for the third time as the setting for his brand new art installation entitled Two Twisted – part of the cathedral’s year of special events centred around how we care for and abuse God’s world.

Known for creating art on an often epic scale, Mach’s raw materials include sea containers, cars, steel girders and multiple tonnes of newsprint.

He said:

“I will build an installation, a sculpture with ten tonnes of newspapers, two sea containers and other large objects. We’ll bring the outside world into the cathedral and activate it in a different way layering the material rhythmically in a performance that almost becomes like a dance repeating again and again the action that sees the work to existence.”

The Dean of Chester, The Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford says,

“We are honoured that David has chosen to unveil his latest work of art within our walls and feel sure Two Twisted will create as much debate and discussion as his previous works.”

Luke Jerram’s 23 ft replica of the earth, Gaia, with sound composition by Bafta and Ivor Novella award winning composer Dan Jones, will be suspended in Liverpool Cathedral – creating the centrepiece of the River Festival Liverpool this June.

The artwork forms part of the ‘Changing Tides’ creative programme, which last year saw the Museum of the Moon installed in the Cathedral attracting 60,000 visitors to the venue in just two weeks.  This year’s programme celebrates the port of Liverpool as an arrival and departure base through culture, music, food and wine from all over earth.

The Very Rev Dr Sue Jones, Dean of Liverpool said:

“It’s a great joy to be able to host another amazing installation at Liverpool Cathedral by renowned artist Luke Jerram, as part of the city’s River Festival.

“As an inspiring place of encounter, with worship at its heart, the Cathedral is a focal point for people in Liverpool and visitors to the city. Last year, witnessing so many people enjoy the beautiful Museum of the Moon, reminded me that we really are a place for the city to come together and experience something truly outstanding.”

Artist and Gaia creator Luke Jerram, said:

“I was delighted when the Museum of the Moon was presented at the Cathedral, and overwhelmed that 60,000 people experienced my work. 

“Now I’ve made an artwork of the Earth, I’m interested in how people will react to this different experience and what their interpretation will be. 

“I hope visitors to the Earth in Liverpool get to see our planet as if from space, as a floating fragile ball of life, an incredibly beautiful and precious ecosystem. A place we urgently need to look after – our only home.” 

Gaia will be open to the public from Saturday 25 May, a week before the free festival takes place on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 June and is in situ until June 23 with a programme of associated events.

Two Twisted opens to the public on Friday 12 April and the free-to-enter installation will be in the cathedral until Monday 20 May 2019. Main funder is the Megan Gwynne Jones Charitable Trust.

River Festival Liverpool and Changing Tides has been curated by Liverpool City Council. Supporters making the event possible are Huyton Asphalt, Arriva, Heart North West and Merseyrail

More at the River Festival website and on Twitter with the hashtag #RiverFestival.