Co-commissioned by Light Night Wigan and Quays Culture, the giant 10m diameter Floating Earth installation aims to create a sense of the Overview Effect, which was first described by author Frank White in 1987. Common features of the experience for astronauts are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment. Watch this great film about the phenomenon.
Floating Earth also prompts the difficult discussions we all need to have about climate change and what we, as individuals and wider society, can do to make our lifestyles more sustainable.
The installation is presented with a surround-sound composition by Dan Jones.
The latest presentation was at Canary Wharf, London for Winter Lights 2023. The artwork was visited by over 100,000 people each day – around one million people over the course of the exhibition!
Presented in this context, Luke hoped visitors and bankers working in Canary Wharf ask questions about how their money in savings and pensions is invested. According to Global Canopy two pounds of every ten invested in an average pension is linked to a risk of deforestation, destroying natural ecosystems and habitats, driving climate change and impacting the livelihoods of Indigenous communities across the globe. This situation urgently needs to change if we want to fight climate change and save the planet!
Luke was contacted by various banks asking to sponsor the artwork in return for branding opportunities, which he turned down. As a consequence of the artwork outside their office window, staff at the banks had been talking internally about the environmental policies of the companies they’re working for.
Previous Presentations
Brescia, Italy, 2023
Canary Wharf, London for Winter Lights 2023
Cultuurcentrum Sint-Niklaas. Belgium 2022
Light Waves, Salford, UK 2021
Light Night Wigan, UK 2022
To get in touch about presenting the Floating Earth artwork please contact: studio@lukejerram.com
On Instagram: #FloatingEarth
Press Coverage
ITV news
Secret London
Ian Visits
Global Times
NWS news – Belgium National News
Nieuwsblad – Belgium
Waaskrant – Belgium
India Today
Local ITV News
Guardian
CNN – photo of the day
Financial Times
The Atlantic – photo of the day
HLN – Belgium. Floating Earth