Museum of the Moon
Luke Jerram
It is a spectacular sight that unfolds as visitors enter the Schwarzenberg Garden: the Moon. Luke Jerram’s light installation Museum of the Moon presents a seven-metre-diameter replica of the Moon. Each centimetre represents approximately five kilometres of the lunar surface, revealing its craters, mountains and valleys to the viewer. In this immersive experience, NASA imagery of the Moon merges with a soft moonlight radiating from within, accompanied by a surround-sound composition by the multi-award-winning composer Dan Jones.
The Moon holds a fascination that transcends cultures. It inspires religions, music, poetry and literature, and has shaped so many of our fairy tales and legends. […] Wherever our journey takes us, the interpretation of the work is always slightly different.
The Museum of the Moon project has been presented in more than 300 exhibitions across approximately 30 countries and has already captivated millions of people. From one location to another, visitors interpret the work differently – on the one hand, reflecting our cultural differences, and on the other, demonstrating how deeply the Moon resonates with people across all borders and, in doing so, brings them together.
Spotlight
from Idea to Artwork
What is so special about the moon, Luke?
We humans have been looking up at the moon for 200,000 years. It is part of human history and has influenced a vast range of cultures around the world for as long as we can remember. There is something universally fascinating about it. It inspires religions, music, poetry and literature, and it has shaped so many of our fairy tales and legends. Of course, for some peoples the moon is simply a celestial body, while for others it is much more than that. This differing cultural significance is reflected even in language: in French, for example, the moon is feminine, while in German it is masculine. In China, people tell stories of rabbits on the moon; in Europe, we see a face on its surface and speak of the “man in the moon”.
Are these cultural differences also noticeable in the way your artwork is received?
Very much so! We have presented the Museum of the Moon project in more than 30 countries so far, from the United States and Europe to India and China. Wherever the project travels, the interpretation of the work is always slightly different. In the United States, people think of NASA’s Apollo moon missions; for Hindu communities in India, the moon has a strong religious significance; and in China, it is celebrated as part of the Mid-Autumn Festival. I find these different culturally shaped stories extremely interesting.
So through the installation, we learn not only about the moon, but above all about ourselves.
That is also the reason why I called the project Museum of the Moon. It is a project that brings so much knowledge to the surface – of course about the moon itself, but also about us as human beings. But culture is not the only thing that influences interpretation. The location also changes the way we perceive this artistic representation of the moon. In a science museum, we tend to interpret the project primarily from a scientific perspective; in a church, there is always a sense of transcendence. Suddenly, we begin to think about the origins of the universe, about the divine in the moon, or even about our own relationship with God. One particularly touching moment was when a little girl came up to me and asked whether I was going to put the moon back after the exhibition. She thought I had stolen it. That is the kind of reaction this work can provoke!
What inspired you to create Museum of the Moon?
I live in Bristol, which has the second-highest tidal range in Europe. There is a difference of 15 metres between low tide and high tide! As we know, the moon is responsible for this. One day, while cycling across the river, I became truly aware of this tidal range for the first time. That gave me the idea of creating an artwork that would likewise be inspired and influenced by the moon. What is special about Museum of the Moon is that, in reality, we never see the far side of the moon. The project allows visitors to walk around the moon and see its reverse side.
Biography
Through his multidisciplinary practice, Luke Jerram creates sculptures, installations and live art projects. He lives in the United Kingdom but has worked internationally for the past 25 years, inspiring and captivating people around the world with his art projects.