Mars: War and Peace
Mars: War and Peace at Truro Cathedral
Truro Cathedral is delighted to confirm that it will welcome Luke Jerram’s spectacular touring artwork, Mars: War and Peace, in October 2025. This artwork follows on from his other astronomical artworks, Museum of the Moon and Gaia. Gaia was exhibited at Truro Cathedral in 2023.
Measuring seven metres in diameter, the artwork features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery* of the Martian surface. At an approximate scale of 1:1 million, each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 10 kilometres of the surface of Mars. Mars was named by the ancient Romans as their god of war, as its reddish colour was reminiscent of blood. Accompanying the Mars sculpture is a newly created sound composition by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award winning composer Dan Jones. Featuring the sounds of seas, deserts and clips from NASA missions to Mars, it also incorporates the sounds of distant bombing and people marching, as if to war.
Visitors will be able to experience Mars daily throughout its stay from Monday 13th October to Sunday 2nd November. Entry to Truro Cathedral will remain free throughout the installation during the day, with donations encouraged to enable the cathedral to continue to bring events such as Mars to the community of Cornwall. There will also be a range of ticketed events and activities accompanying the installation for people to enjoy.
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*The Mars artwork is made from NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter data, Visible Earth series, NASA.
Mars is co-commissioned by Kunsthal KAdE, Netherlands; UK Space Agency; Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK and UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres. With supporting partner University of Bristol.
Q&As - Mars: War and Peace at Truro Cathedral.
Website Banner Image Credit: Kensington Chelsea Festival, 2023. Dave Parry, Press Association
Video Credit: Luke Jerram.