On Friday 29th November 2019, Gaia was presented in the Natural History Museum of London.
The artwork was displayed to the public in the Hintze Hall, next to a huge skeleton of an ancient whale (called Hope) for an event exploring our relationship with our environment, titled Your Planet Needs You.
One visitor said “The Earth looked more real than the building around it!”
Visitors were invited to join a special Natural History Museum Lates event celebrating the BBC’s awe-inspiring series ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet’.
The TV series, currently captivating audiences around the world, shares previously untold stories from our seven unique continents – and there has never been a more crucial time to explore and understand them. After all, there’s no place like Earth.
For this special Lates event, Natural History Museum scientists have teamed up with the BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit to celebrate the precious diversity of life on our continents. Relive memorable sequences from the series and hear fascinating stories from series producers and researchers along with leading Museum scientists, in a range of talks and activities showcasing the highlights of each episode.
The evening’s deep dive talks promise to bring visitors even closer to the action on screen. Highlights include:
- Drone expert Colin Jackson in conversation with Museum scientist Natalie Cooper discussing how new technology is transforming natural history filmmaking
- Fredi Devas, producer of the Antarctica episode, uncovering incredible stories of struggle and survival in a changing world alongside Museum scientist Richard Sabin.
- Discover how the incredible score of Seven Worlds, One Planet was created as we listen to the goose bump-inducing music behind the series.
“I wanted to attempt to give the public the opportunity to see the Earth as a sphere, floating in the darkness of space. I hope to convey the fragility and beauty of our planet – our only home. It’s a great pleasure to be working with NERC to help realise this project.” said Luke
NERC’s Associate Director of Communications & Engagement Julia Maddock said:
Art has the power to speak to the heart and mind. We hope Luke’s Earth will inspire audiences to meet the challenges we face on our planet, helping us to work together to deliver solutions.
NERC is the biggest funder of environmental science in the UK, and our work doesn’t stop there: we are passionate about bringing environmental science beyond the academic community to everyone, as it affects all of our lives every day, whether that’s understanding how to talk about climate change or playing a part in preventing the devastating impacts of marine plastics.
Your Planet Needs You is a unique opportunity to meet with the scientists confronting today’s biggest environmental issues and to engage with ways to tackle these important questions in a fun way. Ultimately, this evening aims to convey a message of hope, united we are making a difference.
Head of Exhibitions, Learning & Outreach at the Natural History Museum Dr Alex Burch said:
We are thrilled to be hosting Luke Jerram’s Earth as part of our Your Planet Needs You Lates evening in collaboration with NERC. We hope the thought-provoking installation and programme of activities throughout the evening will inspire visitors to engage in crucially important environmental science, reflect on our planet’s future, and to participate in debates about how we can address these together. Only by building our understanding of the natural world will we find a way to protect it for the future.
The Natural History Museum is a world-class visitor attraction and leading science research centre in London. Enjoy exhibitions, talks, science demos, food and drinks by night on the last Friday of the month.