Luke Jerram: Gaia

Measuring seven metres in diameter, Gaia, is a touring artwork by artist Luke Jerram made with etailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface, creating a sense of the ‘overview effect’: the feeling of awe astronauts have said they feel when viewing Earth from space.

The installation has been travelling the world and now comes to the Southbank Centre for a special weekend, which will include two special concerts. For its visit to South Bank, Gaia will be suspended above the Royal Festival Hall stage.

Fri 28 Aug 2026, 7.30pm
Gaia x BBC Concert Orchestra: Sounds of the Earth
The scene is set for an evening of soaring strings led by the BBC Concert Orchestra. The evening's programme includes a reflective work by Vaughan Williams, two atmospheric, layered works by Oscar-winning composer and cellist Hildur Guðnadóttir, contemporary composer Dobrinka Tabakova’s Sun Triptych, Barber’s transcendent Adagio for Strings and Arvo Pärt’s Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten drawing the concert to a dramatic close. Tickets from £22.

Sat 29 Aug at 7.30pm
Gaia x Eric Whitacre: Eternity in an Hour
Feel the rush of time slow beneath Luke Jerram’s stunning Earth replica, as a spellbinding electro-choral concert by the Grammy Award-winning composer Eric Whitacre creates a meditative moment to sink into. Tickets from £22.

Sun 30 Aug 2026, 10am
Luke Jerram: Gaia
Gaze in awe-struck wonder at our Earth, as Luke Jerram’s floating installation is open to the public throughout Sunday with its suspended position in the concert hall allowing you to walk beneath the installation and view the earth from new angles.  A specially made surround-sound composition by BAFTA award-winning composer Dan Jones is played alongside the sculpture. Tickets from £5.