Luke Jerram: Mars

Overview

Luke Jerram has been bringing the universe to West End throughout Brisbane Festival 2022, all thanks to one giant globe. Measuring seven metres in diameter, the UK-based artist's glowing orb has made its home at West Village for the duration of the huge arts fest — first as his famed Museum of the Moon installation; then as Gaia, aka the earth; and finally as the red planet.

Mars will be on display for just five days, from Tuesday, September 20–Saturday, September 24 — and, like its predecessors, it's worth a look. Looking at our own terrain and its natural satellite recreated in such a huge but close fashion has already felt otherworldly, so expect that sensation to only grow while peering at a completely different planet.

Once again, the attention-grabbing piece uses NASA imagery — and, as a result, features Mars' valleys, craters, volcanoes and mountains in stunning detail.

As well as offering a scale model of the Martian surface, the installation is a work of light and surround sound as well. Is there life on Mars, as David Bowie pondered? Could you survive on the planet by growing your own potatoes, like in The Martian? You won't get the answers here, but you will take in a spectacular piece of art.