Gaia – Truro Cathedral

Truro Cathedral will host a group exhibition of work created in response to climate change and ecological breakdown to coincide with Luke Jerram’s art installation, Gaia, which has gone on display in the cathedral.

Gaia sparks artworks to think anew about the emerging climate emergency in Truro Cathedral.

In This Together features established and emerging artists based in Cornwall with work including painting, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, photography and words.

Measuring seven metres in diameter, Gaia features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface* is suspended above the Cathedral Crossing, providing the opportunity to see the planet floating in three dimensions. A specially made surround-sound composition by BAFTA award-winning Composer Dan Jones will be played alongside the sculpture.

Gaia is free to experience during general visiting hours, and there is a range of events and activities accompanying the installation for people to enjoy including the art exhibition.

These include Gaia by Night, the Celestial Heights Tours which will take visitors up to lesser-known parts of the cathedral so they can gaze down upon the artwork. There’s a chance for people to come and sing Haydn’s Creation together under Gaia, silent disco yoga and quieter times to experience the installation too.

The Revd Simon Robinson, interim Dean of Truro Cathedral, said:

“We are very excited to be able to host Gaia this October. This amazing installation will be an awe-inspiring experience for the whole of Cornwall. I hope that as many people as possible feel drawn to Truro Cathedral to experience Gaia.”

Sean O’Neill, chief operating officer, said,

“I love that we have Gaia coming here in October! It’s a realisation of our aspiration to bring more, exciting events to the community and engage new audiences with the cathedral.”

Artist Luke Jerram said,

“I hope visitors to Gaia get to see the Earth as if from space: an incredibly beautiful and precious place. An ecosystem we urgently need to look after – our only home. Halfway through the Earth’s sixth mass extinction, we urgently need to wake up and change our behaviour. We need to quickly make the changes necessary, to prevent runaway Climate Change.”

Visitors can experience Gaia daily until Saturday 28 October. Entry to Truro Cathedral will remain free throughout the installation, with donations encouraged to enable the cathedral to continue to bring events such as Gaia to the community of Cornwall.

There will also be a range of ticketed events and activities accompanying the installation for people to enjoy, including evening viewing sessions, music events, school visits and talks.