WALKERS around Queen’s Valley are in for a surprise next week – a giant replica of planet earth will be floating in the reservoir as the latest installation in ArtHouse Jersey’s No Place Like Home exhibition.
Last week, many Islanders were puzzled by the appearance of what appeared to be a nine-metre space capsule near Les Platons on the north coast – an art installation by Rachel Ara, it transpired. But next Thursday the Island’s newest reservoir will provide the backdrop for Luke Jerram’s ten-metre Floating Earth, shifting attention to the future of our planet in a project developed with the support of Jersey Water.
The Bristol-based artist’s innovative piece has previously been seen in Wigan, Salford, Belgium, and London where it was surrounded by the high-rise buildings of Canary Wharf, perhaps inspiring the banking community to consider where their money is ultimately invested, Mr Jerram suggested.
Its latest setting in the Queen’s Valley reservoir is one that he thinks will show it to particularly good advantage, encouraging those who see it to ‘think about what we’ve go to do to restore the planet to its rightful health’.
He explained: ‘I think it acts as a mirror depending on what people bring to it, so if you are an environmental campaigner you are going to read it in one way; whereas, if you are a meteorologist or a marine biologist, you will look at it very differently. For some children, this might be the first time they have got to see the earth as a three-dimensional sphere in front of them, so it depends on what people bring to it. But I think it’s a very reflective and uplifting piece.
‘There is something called the overview effect which is when astronauts go into space and then look down on the earth for the first time.
‘They often become overwhelmed by the beauty and the wonder of what they’ve seen. All astronauts seem to have that experience to the extent that when they come back to the earth they often become environmental campaigners as a consequence of seeing the earth from space as this fragile blue marble. I’m hoping to give the public a sense of what that overview effect might be like,’ he said.
The ten-metre globe, made of fabric with hi-resolution printed imagery from NASA and internal lighting, appears a deceptively simple object but it conceals beneath the surface of the water eight tons of mooring gear, allowing it to withstand winds of up to 40mph.
ArtHouse Jersey’s director Tom Dingle said that the inclusion of Floating Earth in the No Place Like Home exhibition, which runs at the Capital House gallery until 15 October, constituted a real coup, bringing into focus the issue of the fragility of the planet that we call home. ‘It is a simply awe-inspiring art experience for everyone in Jersey’s community to enjoy,’ he said, adding that the charity was very grateful to Jersey Water for partnering with them in the project.
The company’s chief executive Helier Smith added: ‘This very much aligns with our purpose at Jersey Water. Queen’s Valley reservoir is the perfect backdrop for this impressive installation.
‘It’s accessible to everyone and we hope Islanders will take the opportunity to spend time enjoying the natural surroundings when they visit.
‘The concept of Floating Earth speaks to our values around prioritising the planet, reducing our impact on it, and creating lasting environmental change. We hope the artwork will also make Islanders think about their own connection with the earth.’
Floating Earth, which also comes with a special soundtrack, will appear at the Queen’s Valley reservoir between Thursday 14 and Sunday 24 September. ArtHouse Jersey is encouraging visitors to share photos of Floating Earth by uploading them to social media, tagging in @arthousejersey @jerseywater & @lukejerramartist while using the hashtag #FloatingEarthJersey.
