It works as a reminder that we have a planet to protect. During climate conference COP 30, the artwork Gaia is displayed in a huge hall in the Blue Zone.
Created by British artist Luke Jerram, Gaia is a seven-metre-diameter sculpture that faithfully depicts planet Earth using real images produced by NASA. The art piece takes its name from Greek mythology, in which Gaia is the personification of the Earth.
Since its launch in 2018, the artwork has been exhibited in various countries, both indoors and outdoors. The idea is that, in each location, the sculpture takes on new meanings. Depending on the installation, Gaia slowly rotates while being admired by visitors, who can view it from an ideal distance that simulates the perspective of the Earth as seen from the Moon.
This year, a partnership with the British Council and Instituto Guimarães Rosa enables the installation of Gaia at COP 30, the current edition of the world’s largest climate event. This presentation reinforces one of the artwork’s main purposes: environmental awareness.
According to its creator, Luke Jerram, seeing the Earth as if from space allows viewers to perceive the planet in a new way – realising that we have only one home, which we urgently need to care for.
Partners:
Gaia has been created in partnership with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Bluedot, and the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres.