"Experience the blue wonder" - the GAIA art installation

It measures seven meters in cross-section and shines bright blue. It hovers majestically above the altar of the Evangelical City Church in Karlsruhe, rotating around itself once every four minutes - accompanied by spherical sounds: "Gaia" (Greek: earth).

The highly acclaimed art installation by British artist Luke Jerram will be on display in Baden-Württemberg for the first time in fall 2024. Luke Jerram has created a true-to-scale replica of the Earth's surface based on images taken by the US space agency NASA. The installation will be hung in such a way as to create the "overview effect" described by astronauts. The clear architecture and sober spatial atmosphere of the Stadtkirche (City Church) brings this to the fore and the two galleries of the Protestant City Church in Karlsruhe allow visitors to gaze in amazement from different perspectives. The installation has already attracted tens of thousands of visitors to the Frauenkirche in Dresden and the Martinskirche in Memmingen.

"I hope that when guests visit Gaia, they perceive the Earth as if they were in space themselves: as a beautiful and precious place. An ecosystem that we urgently need to preserve - our only home." - Luke Jerram - 

The GAIA art installation combines the themes of sustainability and climate protection. These can be experienced in the broad-based, interdisciplinary accompanying program for different age groups, addressed in an artistic, political and interreligious way and made audible through music. 

The project period is at the end of the SCHLOSSLICHTSPIELE Light Festival and during the FAIR WEEKS 2024. Evening talks, a poetry slam, Josef Haydn's oratorio "The Creation", a children's musical by the Karlsruhe singing schools, jazz music, themed church services, an accompanying program for children and young people and much more complement the exhibition. 

Opening

The art installation will be opened on Friday, 13.9.24 at 6 pm in the Protestant town church. The opening hours of the city church will be extended for the duration of the GAIA presentation (daily until 10 p.m.), and comfortable seating below the installation invites visitors to linger and meditate. The two galleries of the Stadtkirche provide additional perspectives on the "Blue Planet".

Supporting program

According to the express wish of artist Luke Jerram, the GAIA art installation will focus on topics such as sustainability, climate protection and climate justice. The interdisciplinary accompanying program consists of concerts, talks, lectures, a family activity day, themed church services, a poetry slam workshop and poetry slam.

Program for children and young people

Groups of daycare centers and school classes from Karlsruhe and the surrounding area are invited to take part in the accompanying educational program. So far, around 1,000 children and young people have already registered for the accompanying program.

Organizer

 The project is taking place under the patronage of State Bishop Prof. Dr. Heike Springhart, Minister President Winfried Kretschmann and Lord Mayor Dr. Frank Mentrup. The event is organized by the Protestant Old and Middle City Parish together with the Protestant Church in Karlsruhe and the Cantorate at the Protestant City Church in Karlsruhe.

Admission to the art installation is free, donations are requested.

Further information can be found at www.gaia-in-karlsruhe.de