Giant planet Mars sculpture arrives at Peterborough Cathedral

It includes a light display and original soundtrack

Mars was named by the ancient Romans as the god of war, the artist said
Author: Anna Simpson and Victoria HornagoldPublished 10th Jan 2024
Last updated 10th Jan 2024

A giant 7-metre Mars sculpture is on display at Peterborough Cathedral as part of a tour of the UK.

It is accompanied by a soundtrack and light display designed to 'fully immersed'' visitors in the experience.

'Mars: War and Piece' has been created by Luke Jerram.

The artist said he hopes visitors will feel “transported to its inhospitable desert wasteland” and aims to inspire a new sense of “value for our life on Earth”.

The red planet sculpture measures seven meters in diameter and features detailed NASA imagery of the planet’s surface from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Multi-award winning composer Dan Jones has created the accompanying soundtrack.

His most recent credits include the film adaptation of Ian McEwan’s On Chesil Beach and the ITV crime drama series Dark Heart.

The 30-minute soundscape replicates the weather on the planet’s surface.

This will be the first time Mars: War & Peace has been displayed in a cathedral.

It is designed to make humans completely 'the history of human conflict around the world'.

The sculpture will be on display for free from 9th-29th January 2024 during the cathedral’s normal opening hours.

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