Throughout 2025 the National Trust will display Helios at locations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Trust aims to make this dazzling new artwork as accessible to as many people as possible over the next year.
The artwork was in Seaton Delaval Hall from 19 March – 6 April 2025.
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.