Leicester Cathedral is playing host to an extraordinary celestial visitor this spring, as Luke Jerram’s acclaimed art installation Mars: War & Peace arrives in the city.
The immersive artwork, featuring a seven-metre-wide model of the red planet, will be on display from 16 May to 8 June 2025, inviting visitors to explore the stark beauty of Mars while contemplating humanity’s relationship with war and peace.
Picture credit: Ella Foster/Exeter Cathedral
Suspended in the Cathedral’s historic nave, the illuminated sculpture is based on detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface. The installation is accompanied by an atmospheric soundscape created by award-winning composer Dan Jones, blending NASA mission audio with evocative sounds of desert winds, distant bombing, and military marches.
Jerram, the artist behind the globally touring Museum of the Moon and Gaia, uses this latest piece to highlight the contrast between the uninhabitable Martian landscape and the devastation of war here on Earth. “This installation aims to provide a moment of reflection — a reminder of our planet’s fragility and the urgent need for peace,” Jerram said.
The Cathedral is enhancing the installation with a series of special events. On 21 May, it will host Mindfulness under Mars, a relaxing evening of yoga, crafts, and refreshments beneath the glowing red sphere. Later, on 5 June, the annual Cathedral Dinner will take place under the installation, featuring live music, a formal meal, and a guest speaker, all in support of the Cathedral’s ongoing mission and ministry.
Mars: War & Peace is open to the public and free to visit during the day, making it accessible for families, schools, and community groups. Evening events may require advance booking.
This installation is part of Leicester Cathedral’s spring programme, which also celebrates the opening of its new Heritage & Learning Centre. The programme aims to engage the public in exploring both the heavens and humanity’s shared histories through art, education, and reflection.
For more information on visiting times and event bookings, visit leicestercathedral.org
