About
The Sun and The Moon: Art Inspired by the Celestial is a major exhibition exploring how the two most powerful phenomena in the sky have inspired creativity, curiosity, and belief throughout human history and across different cultures. Occupying two floors of the Gallery and spanning nine major exhibition spaces, the show presents artworks, installations, and objects that reveal how artists have responded to the Sun and the Moon. The exhibition features the works by established artists, by emerging talent and archival material throughout.
The exhibition unfolds as a journey through a complete 24-hour cycle, moving from dawn through daylight, into the depths of the night. The exhibition includes two major installation works: Helios, a monumental sculpture of the Sun created by artist Luke Jerram, and Massless Suns and Dark Suns by teamLab, an immersive installation that will envelop visitors with spheres of light.
The first four chapters of the exhibition focus upon the Sun. The journey begins with Dawn which reveals how the Sun and the Moon were integral to early belief systems and mythologies. A second chapter, The Sun Rising, reflects on time, seasons, and rituals. The exhibition continues with Zenith where we look at how artists respond to the sun at its highest and its relationship to our bodies. Setting Sun follows, with a focus on transformation, including a section about tarot and a presentation of Nancy Holt’s film Sun Tunnels.
At the halfway point of the exhibition, we present Helios by Luke Jerram. This enormous reproduction of the sun as a globe in a double-height gallery features a collage of over 400,000 photographs of the surface of the sun.
The second half of the exhibition focuses upon the Moon. Evening considers the Moon’s enduring fascination for artists and introduces us to some of its qualities and influence. The room features Saad Qureshi’s large-scale split moon is presented, suspended in the space. Walking on the Moon focuses on the cultural impact of the Apollo missions and the lesser-known stories behind space exploration, including the contributions of craftswomen and designers who helped make the missions possible. At its centre is Moon Landing, a collaborative work by Margo Selby and composer Helen Caddick.
The penultimate chapter, Midnight, delves into the Moon’s long association with folklore, magic, dreams and the ‘witching hour’. The exhibition concludes with the Darkest Hours, featuring Massless Suns and Dark Suns and Massless Sun and Surface of the Sky by the internationally renowned teamLab. This immersive installation will invite viewers to reflect upon the majesty of the universe in which we live.
Featured artists include: Akiko Hirai, Aleksandra Mir, Alexander Mackenzie, Álvaro Barrington, Álvaro Petritoli, Anders Scrmn Meisner, Andrew Millar, Anna Sampson, Annelie Solis, Anwar Jalal Shemza, Anwar Saeed, Arthur Rackham, Audrey Large, Barbara Hepworth, Ben Drury, Ben Edge, Bernard Cheese, Billy Childish, Blair Hughes-Stanton, Bridget Riley, Bunmi Agusto, Camile Sproesser, Carl-Henning Pedersen, Carol Bramley, Carol Puruntatameri, Carolein Smit, Cecil Collins, Christiane Baumgartner, Christopher Le Brun, Dan Hillier, Darcey Fleming, Dave McKean, David Shrigley, Dindga McCannon, Dora Maar, Douglas Gray, Elisabeth Deane, Elisabeth Vellacott, Elizabeth Loveday, Ellie Davies, Ellis O’Connor, Else Alfelt, Emilie Pugh, Evelyn De Morgan, Evelyn Dunbar, Francis Edwin Hodge, Frank Bernard Dicksee, Freya Pocklington, fuchsia, Fumie Onuki, Gali Yalkarriwuy Gurriwiwi, Gareth Cadwallader, George Jardine, George Méliès, George Turner, Gill Button, Harry Adams, Helen Caddick, Henrietta Hoyer Millar, Henry Hudson, Henry Moore, Ilma Savari (Ugiobari), Isobel Church, Ithell Colquhoun, Jack Coutu, Jaclyn Conley, Jai Khanna, James Heath, Jamie Hewlett, Jem Finer & Jimmy Cauty, Jim Lambie, Jitish Kallat, Joan Miró, Joe Webb, John Russell, John Titchell, Joseph Wright of Derby, Kate Montgomery, Katie Paterson, Kay Gasei, Kimberley Gundle, Klaus Janson, Leonora Carrington, Lian Zhang, Lucy Mahon, Luke Jerram, LunaTronix, Malcolm Dakin, Maqbool Fida Husain, Marcel Dzama, Marcos Kueh, Margo Selby, Marguerite Carnec, Marj Bond, Mark Connolly, Maro Gorky, Martha Rosler, Martyn Cross, Michael Rothenstein, Monica Sjöö, Muzae Sesay, Nancy Holt, Oliver McConnie, Olivia Fraser, Orla Kane, Otto Piene, Owain Kirby, Patrick Caulfield, Paula Rego, Paula Turmina, Peter Doig, Rabia S. Akhtar, Raqs Media Collective, Richard McVetis, Roya Bahram, Rune Christensen, Russell-Hawkes Company, Rusty Peters, S. Drinot, Saad Qureshi, Sam Douglas, Sam Riley, Sanmu Kunisada, Sekai Machache, Shanti Panchal, Shezad Dawood, Sigrid Holmwood, Sinta Tantra, Sky Glabush, Sophie Crockett, Sophie Smorczewski, Stanislav Filko, Stanley Donwood, Su Blackwell, Sue Thatcher, Sunju Jin, Susan Derges, Suzanne Treister, Syotatsu Ekaki, teamLab, Terry Frost, Thelma Ayre, Thomas Hooper, Tom Davidson, Tom Hammick, Valentine Dobrée, Whatshisname, William Hogarth, William John Charles Pitcher, Yinka Ilori, Zak Ové.
Curatorial project partners include: Royal Museums Greenwich, The Salisbury Museum, The Atlantis Bookshop.
Supported by headline sponsor Cazenove Capital.
