A spectacular, illuminated artwork depicting the sun is now shining over the waters of a historic Bristol swimming pool. The installation, titled Helios, is the creation of internationally renowned artist Luke Jerram and marks a unique first for the city's aquatic venue.
A Community Sun in Mid-Winter
Suspended several metres above the surface of Jubilee Swimming Pool, the five-metre diameter sculpture will cast its glow across the water for a limited period. The artwork is crafted from over 400,000 high-resolution photographs of the sun's surface, combined with observational data from NASA, and weighs approximately 50 kilogrammes.
Jerram explained his motivation, stating he enjoys creating art that brings people together. "There's something nice about using a community space like this that's accessible to everybody. For me that's really important," he said. "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. A bit of sunbathing is probably what we will need this time of year."
Swimming Beneath a Celestial Body
The installation will be in place from Monday, January 19, 2026, until Sunday, February 8, 2026. During this three-week period, regular swimmers and visitors will have the chance to view Helios and even take a dip beneath its radiant form. To accommodate the expected interest, the pool has added special late-night swimming sessions to its regular timetable.
Julie Laming, chairwoman of the 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 said. "We are thrilled and proud to be hosting such an exciting and unique event for Bristol."
Art with a Sustainable Purpose
Beyond providing a stunning visual experience, the project has a tangible environmental goal. Jerram hopes the installation will draw large crowds, with a portion of the proceeds contributing to funding solar panels for the pool's roof. This initiative is designed to help secure a greener, more sustainable future for the nearly nine-decade-old community facility.
Following its Bristol debut, the Helios artwork is scheduled to continue its global journey. Its itinerary includes appearances in Manchester, then Borneo in Southeast Asia, a return to London, and finally a trip to the United States before the year's end. This tour adds to Jerram's impressive milestone of 1,000 exhibitions across more than 50 countries worldwide.
