A spectacular, five-metre wide replica of the sun is now casting its radiant glow over the waters of a historic Bristol swimming pool. The immersive art installation, titled 'Helios', has transformed the city's Jubilee Swimming Pool into a unique winter destination.
A Community Space Illuminated
Created by the acclaimed artist Luke Jerram, the stunning sculpture weighs approximately 50 kilogrammes and is a meticulous representation of our closest star. It was constructed using a combination of over 400,000 high-resolution photographs of the Sun’s surface and observational data from NASA.
Jerram, renowned for his accessible public artworks, shared his vision for the project. "I like creating artwork that brings people together," he said. "There’s something nice about using a community space like this that’s accessible to everybody. For me that’s really important."
Swimming Beneath the Sun
Named after the ancient Greek god personifying the sun, Helios will be suspended several metres above the pool water for a three-week period. From Monday 19 January until Sunday 8 February 2026, the public are invited to view the installation and even take a swim beneath its luminous form, with special late-night sessions also planned.
Julie Laming, chairwoman of trustees at Jubilee Pool, expressed her pride in hosting the event. "This is the first time Helios has been suspended over a swimming pool, let alone at a much-loved indoor pool approaching its 90th anniversary," she stated. "We are thrilled and proud to be hosting such an exciting and unique event for Bristol."
Art with a Sustainable Mission
Beyond providing a breathtaking visual experience, Jerram hopes the installation will draw significant visitor numbers to support a vital cause. The aim is to help fund the installation of solar panels for Jubilee Pool’s roof, aiding the venue's transition towards a more sustainable and greener future.
"It’s also that opportunity in the middle of winter, when it’s so dark and cold outside, to come here and have a swim underneath the sun," Jerram added. "A bit of sunbathing is probably what we will need this time of year."
Following its debut in Bristol, the Helios sculpture is scheduled to travel to Manchester, then to Borneo in Southeast Asia, before returning to London and finally heading to the United States later in the year. This latest work adds to Jerram's impressive global portfolio, which recently celebrated 1,000 exhibitions in over 50 countries worldwide.
