Mars: War and Peace

From the artist behind the beloved Museum of the Moon and Gaia, Luke Jerram's fusion of Mars imagery, light, and surround sound is coming Friday 16 May – Sunday 8 June 2025.

Wonder at the Red Planet as Luke Jerram's spectacular seven metre sculpture of Mars comes to the Cathedral for the first time.

Mars was named by the ancient Romans for their god of war because its reddish colour was reminiscent of blood – the artwork features detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface and is on rotation, in the style of his other astronomical artworks of the Moon and Gaia.

A soundscape by award winning composer Dan Jones features the sounds of seas, deserts, and NASA missions, as well as distant bombing and people marching, as if to war.

Plan your visit during Cathedral opening hours to explore the installation. No booking is required to view it during the day. Entry is by voluntary donation, with a suggested donation of £8 per person to help support future events and installations like this.

Join us after hours for a unique programme of events that contemplate not just celestial beauty and the wonder of space, but also highlight injustice and the effects of war.