Weekend: See the sun – as never before – at Suffolk’s Ickworth Park

Visit Suffolk Ickworth Park this weekend and see the sun – up close and personal. . .

A luminous seven-metre orb suspended in space, Helios brings the sights and sounds of the Sun to Suffolk’s Ickworth Estate this month.

The latest work by immersive artist Luke Jerram, creator of both Museum of the Moon and Gaia, a recreation of planet Earth, it will hang outside Ickworth’s iconic Rotunda (May 2 to 11).

The first time the piece has been exhibited outdoors, Helios, which is lit from within, combines detailed solar imagery with sounds recorded by NASA to transport viewers into space.

Says Chloe Woodrow, property curator at Ickworth, the National Trust Estate just outside Bury: “Helios is a stunning celebration of the Sun as a symbol of light and renewal. It's a privilege to bring such an awe-inspiring and innovative installation to our community.”

Viewing dates, times and tickets at nationaltrust.org.uk