You might have seen us talking about Helios a lot lately…but what actually is it?
Helios is a huge sculpture of the Sun, measuring seven-metres in diameter, and suspended inside Grimsby Minster. To give you a sense of how big that is, it’s roughly the size of a double decker bus, except one that glows.
Created by Bristol-based, world-renowned artist Luke Jerram, Helios is covered in incredibly detailed imagery of the Sun’s actual surface, the same surface that’s 93 million miles away and far too dangerous to ever look at it directly. Helios gives you the chance to get up close to something you’d never normally be able to see, completely safely, right here in Grimsby.
It’s Luke’s latest work following Museum of the Moon and Gaia, which so many of you will have already seen and loved over the past few years. Same idea, same scale, and same wow factor, except this time, it’s the Sun. And if you thought his previous works were impressive, just wait until you step inside the minster.
The imagery covering Helios was put together using real photographs of the Sun taken by scientists and NASA, so what you’re looking at isn’t just art, it’s what the Sun genuinely looks like up close. You can even spot the source of the solar flares that caused the Northern Lights to be visible across the UK in May 2024. Remember that night? That’s right there in the sculpture!
It’s not just something to look at either – the whole space is filled with a specially created soundscape, pulling together NASA recordings of the Sun, the sounds of nature and fire, and music from sun festivals celebrated by cultures all over the world. Some people find it calming, some find it overwhelming in the best possible way. Most people just find themselves standing there for longer than they expected, not quite wanting to leave the space.
The sculpture is open to view from 9 April to 4 May at Grimsby Minster, and you can book a visit as many times as you like. There’s no pressure to rush it either: go with the kids, go again on your own, make a whole day of it and explore the rest of Grimsby and Cleethorpes whilst you’re at it. Helios is that kind of experience.
While you’re there, make sure to keep an eye on the wider programme of events happening around Helios too. Across the weeks it’s installed, there’s plenty to get involved in, from creative activities and storytelling to live music and installations. There really is something for everyone, and so much of it is free.
Helios is also part of something so much bigger than a single visit. It’s the opening moment for Our Future Starts Here, a brand new five-year programme for North East Lincolnshire, exploring our place, our community, and the world around us. It’s ambitious, it’s exciting, and it’s rooted right here in the beating heart of Grimsby.
Our Future Starts Here is all about bringing people together to experience something different and start thinking about the bigger picture. It’s about where we live, what we care about, and what kind of future we want to build. Helios felt like the perfect place to start that conversation, and we’re excited to have you come with us on this journey.
This is just the beginning, and it starts right here.
Book your slot to experience Helios, and explore the full programme of events at ourfuturestartshere.co.uk
