Helios, Luke Jerram, Charterhouse, August 2025

Collecting artwork through my photography is one of my long-running projects. My interest in Luke Jerram’s work began during the pandemic, when BBC Midlands, was filming his large-scale artwork In Memoriam. The installation, set next to Aston Hall, was the subject of one of my earlier blogs. Briefly, Luke used blue and white hospital bed sheets to create a circular medical logo that stretched across a field. I was fortunate not only to meet him but also to talk with him about how this work came about and even to take his portrait photograph.

Helios, Luke Jerram, Charterhouse, August 2025
Helios residing in the gardens of Charterhouse

Since then, whenever one of Jerram’s installations has come to the West Midlands, I have made a point of visiting and photographing the artwork. I have seen Gaia at Millennium Point, the Museum of the Moon in Lichfield Cathedral, and more recently, Helios at the historic Charterhouse in Coventry.

Helios, Luke Jerram, Charterhouse, August 2025
Enjoying the spectacle
Helios, Luke Jerram, Charterhouse, August 2025
The earth and Helios compared.

The Charterhouse, a former medieval monastic house with a long and varied history, is now run by the National Trust. On a hot sunny afternoon in August, we visited the property to view Helios. Jerram’s works are displayed against differing backdrops which provide a dramatic contrast to the art. This glowing sphere of the sun was set within the walled gardens, an ideal setting, as my photographs show.

Helios, Luke Jerram, Charterhouse, August 2025
Helios in the Garden

My grandson Noah suggested we lie down beneath Helios. This gave me an unusual perspective, and some striking photographs. After capturing several images, I paused to simply take in the artwork. Suspended within its metal frame, the sphere revealed breathtaking details of the sun’s surface. The inclusion of a scaled Earth nearby reminded viewers of just how vast the sun truly is.

Helios, Luke Jerram, Charterhouse, August 2025
Dramatic blue skies behind Helios

The Charterhouse itself is a place of calm beauty, with its tiered gardens and excellent coffee shop, a welcome stop after exploring. I doubt Richard II, who laid its foundations, could ever have imagined the many ways the property would be used over the centuries.

Helios, Luke Jerram, Charterhouse, August 2025
Noah with his football sphere.

Now, having photographed In MemoriamGaiaMuseum of the Moon, and Helios, my next goal is to view Mars when it visits the West Midlands. That will complete my personal photographic record of Luke Jerram’s planetary installations.

These are my previous entries on Luke Jerram’s artwork.

My notes from my visit to Gaia in March 2022.

We visited Gaia by Luke Jerram is in Millennium Point, Birmingham. This is adjacent to the ThinkTank Museum where the children had so much fun after visiting Gaia. The earth is something to see when you get up close and personal. Luke Jerram created the artwork which is 1.8 million times smaller than the real earth. The double exposure created in camera is of my daughter Natasha. My title of the picture is “Lost in her own world”. Interestingly my grandchildren cannot remember the visit so I am glad I have the pictures to show their enjoyment on the day.

Gaia, Millenium Point, Birmingham, March 2022
My grandchildren together with Gaia in the background.
Gaia, Millenium Point, Birmingham, March 2022
Lost in her own world. A double exposure of my daughter with Gaia.
'Your Next Breath', Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, January, 2023

A thought provoking memorial to the Covid19 pandemic sits in the gardens of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. There are four statues standing expressing emotions of despair, tiredness and exhaustion. These bronze cast life sized figures are based on the real life experiences of three health care workers. The work is called “Your next breadth” and you have to pass by it as you enter into the Royal College.

'Your Next Breath', Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, January, 2023
The four figures.

I was there for a conference and had the opportunity to visit the artwork. I was inspired to take many pictures at different angles of which my personal selection is shown in this blog. The artist and sculptor, Kenny Hunter, designed this work and I found more examples of his work on Instagram. These four figures are set out in a diamond with three looking forward and the fourth looking into the circle with arms outstretched. They radiate a powerful message about working at the frontline during Covid19 and are a fitting tribute to all the health workers that were involved in the care of patients.

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Like any emotive pieces of artwork, the photography is a challenge as you look to take a picture that is different from all the publicity pictures that have been taken. I felt privileged to be able to take the pictures that are in the blog. As readers will know, I have seen many tributes and several of them have been featured in my blog. The photography of this memorial adds to my increasing story of the pandemic and how people are remembering what happened. These tributes will allow people to find closure after a turbulent time in the history of mankind.

'Your Next Breath', Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, January, 2023
Even during the night.

This is one of several art installations that have occurred since the pandemic. I have provided links to these for your further reading.

04 Musuem of the Moon_res (2)

I love Luke Jerram’s work and have been fortunate to meet the artist as well. His work is often on a grand scale and aims to provoke discussion. I have covered his art work before and his work In Memoriam covered death and reflecting on its consequences. Luke has also created Gaia, which is a large scale replica of the earth. This was recently housed at Millennium Point, Birmingham. Having seen Gaia, I was excited to learn that “Museum of the Moon” was visiting Lichfield Cathedral for the month of October 2022.

Museum of the Moon, Lichfield Cathedral, October 2022
An idea of the size of the moon. This picture featured on BBC Midlands Instagram account.
Museum of the Moon, Lichfield Cathedral, October 2022
Lying on the floor looking up.

Lichfield Cathedral is set in a picturesque courtyard and the front facade has many statues making up the West door. Once inside, the Nave of the Cathedral is dominated by the moon. The white globe contrasts with the brown masonary of the pillars and is enhanced by the associated lighting, both artificial and natural. The Moon is seven metres in diameter and is made up of 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. The globe does not rotate but there is an imperceptible movement caused by the flow of air through the cathedral. The detail of the moon is possible from the high resolution pictures and 1 centimetre represents 5km of the moon’s surface. The internal illumination provides the white glow one normally associates with the moon.

Museum of the Moon, Lichfield Cathedral, October 2022
The surreal view of the moon in the Cathedral.
Museum of the Moon, Lichfield Cathedral, October 2022
The surface detail of the Moon

I used my iPhone13 exclusively for the pictures and one of my photographs was featured on the BBC Midlands Instagram account. Whilst in the Cathedral, we also took the opportunity of exploring the interior and it is a beautiful place to visit.

Museum of the Moon, Lichfield Cathedral, October 2022
The front facade of Lichfield Cathedral.