28 January 2026
SkyCity is pleased to announce the arrival of Helios to the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC).
This is the first time the breathtaking large-scale artwork by internationally celebrated British artist Luke Jerram, will have been in Aotearoa.
Measuring six metres in diameter, Helios is a touring, internally illuminated sculpture of the Sun, featuring astonishingly detailed imagery of its surface. Created using a fusion of astrophotography, NASA solar observations and expert scientific guidance, the artwork offers a rare and safe opportunity for the public to experience the Sun up close, revealing sunspots, spicules, filaments and the origins of solar flares.
Presented at an approximate scale of 1:230 million, each centimetre of Helios represents 2,300 kilometres of the Sun’s surface. At this scale, the Earth would be no larger than a tennis ball.
Luke Jerram, Artist and Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, says: “Helios offers a unique chance to stand face-to-face with the Sun and see its surface in extraordinary detail from sunspots to the very regions that triggered the Northern Lights visible from the UK in 2024. Presented in public spaces, the artwork changes with every location, season and community, becoming both a sculpture and a shared venue for music, science, reflection and wellbeing.”
He adds: “As a life-giver that has shaped culture, timekeeping and belief systems across the world, the Sun connects us all, and Helios invites awe, curiosity and collective creativity at its core.”
Helios will be displayed at the NZICC for its opening celebration night on 12 February, 2026, before moving to a public showcase from 7 – 15 March 2026, in the Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall.
Helios will be presented in association with the Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival. “Welcoming Helios to New Zealand reflects SkyCity and NZICC’s commitment to hosting world-class cultural experiences that inspire, educate and connect people,” says Jason Walbridge, CEO, SkyCity.
“This is a special opportunity for New Zealanders to encounter one of the world’s most ambitious public artworks. We’re thrilled to have Luke Jerram’s masterpiece as part of our opening ceremony.”
Together, light, sound and sculpture transform the artwork into a powerful sensory experience. Named after the ancient Greek god who personified the Sun, Helios continues Luke Jerram’s internationally acclaimed series of astronomical artworks, following Museum of the Moon, Gaia and Mars, which have collectively been experienced by tens of millions of people worldwide.
“The importance of the Sun for all life on Earth cannot be overstated,” says Luke Jerram. “Making my return to New Zealand, this time with Helios, I hope to inspire a sense of wonder, while also encouraging reflection on our relationship with the environment, wellbeing and time itself.
Daniel Clarke, Director of Auckland Live adds: “Helios is an extraordinary work that invites people to pause, look closer and experience a powerful sense of awe and wairua. We’re proud to bring this remarkable installation to the Concert Chamber at Auckland Town Hall and to offer a free, publicly accessible season so Aucklanders can encounter it up close. Works like this transform our civic spaces into places of wonder and shared experience, and we’re thrilled to welcome people into the Auckland Town Hall to experience Helios day and night.”
Throughout its international tour, Helios has been presented in public spaces including museums, cathedrals and civic landmarks, with each host venue creating its own programme of events around the artwork.
Helios has been co-commissioned by the National Trust, Cork Midsummer Festival, Liverpool Cathedral, Old Royal Naval College and University College London.
For more public access and booking information, visit https://www.aucklandlive.co.nz/show/helios
ENDS
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About Luke Jerram:
Luke Jerram’s multidisciplinary practice involves the creation of sculptures, installations and live arts projects. Living in the UK but working internationally since 1997, Jerram has created a number of extraordinary art projects which have excited and inspired people around the globe. In 2019, Luke Jerram was elected Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.
* The imagery for the artwork has been compiled using photographs of the Sun provided by Astrophotographer Dr Stuart Green (taken between May 2018 to June 2024) and NASA observations of the Sun, with guidance from solar scientist, Professor Lucie Green of University College London (UCL).
Helios follows on from Luke’s other astronomical artworks Museum of the Moon, Gaia, and Mars.
my-helios.org
#Helios
Pictured: Luke Jerram Artist
About NZICC:
The New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) is located in the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland CBD, making it one of the most connected convention centres in the world.
Designed collaboratively alongside event industry experts, the NZICC is a vertically stacked, flexible and modern building, creating a hub of innovation and positive exchange integrated into the fabric of a vibrant city. Uniquely positioned to make each event a memorable experience, the NZICC will offer:
- A venue that is designed around giving delegates fast andeffortless transitions between meetings, exhibition, pre-function, banquet, and performance spaces.
- A glazed facade provides delegates with an inviting and transparent connection to the vibrancy of the city while allowing views of Auckland’s natural beauty, from the Waitākere Ranges to the Waitematā Harbour.
- In close proximity to Auckland’s innovation ecosystem – universities, business headquarters and innovation hubs – allowing event organisers to tap into New Zealand’s leading knowledge centres.
- An integrated atrium and public laneway encourage networking and enhances the delegate experience within a city full of excitement and sophistication, with over 8000 hotel rooms, dining precincts, shopping and entertainment all within 20 minutes walking distance.
- Configurable spaces presenting opportunities for a wide range of events with meeting spaces on all levels, pre-function capacity for 2,700 people, convention capacity for 3,150 and one-off events for 4,000.
About Auckland Live:
Auckland Live is the premier organisation for performing arts, culture, entertainment and events in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. As Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest performing arts entity, we proudly present a programme of live arts and entertainment across our iconic venues: Aotea Centre, The Civic, Auckland Town Hall, The Cloud, Shed 10, Viaduct Events Centre, Bruce Mason Centre, and Aotea Square. Auckland Live is part of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, a council-controlled organisation.
