Helios at Basildon Park

We're displaying Helios at Basildon Park! Helios is a new artwork of the sun by Luke Jerram. This seven-metre sculpture combines solar imagery, light and sound to highlight the sun's intricate details.

Named after the ancient Greek god of the sun, Helios offers a detailed view of the star, including rare features like sunspots. The sculpture is scaled so that each centimetre represents 2,000 kilometres of the real sun's surface.

Along with its glowing light, Helios includes a soundscape featuring NASA recordings of the sun, by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson. Together, the light and sound create a unique and immersive experience, inviting us to explore the sun's hidden beauty and power up close.

While we exhibit Helios, we will open our site later and into the evening, from 12pm to 10pm, to show the sculpture at it's best. The site will open at 12pm, with last entry at 9pm.

The house will be open from 12:30pm to 5pm, last entry 4:15pm. The film exhibition will be open until 9pm, accessible from the garden entrance. The parkland walks will close at 5pm.

Refreshments will be available from the food outlets from 12:30 to 9pm including hot drinks, ice cream, cakes and a BBQ. The shop will be open from 12pm until 9pm.