Exhibit review: ‘Mars at the Muttart’ at the Muttart Conservatory

What happens when you take Mars, and put it in a pyramid? And what if that pyramid is already home to a tranquil garden? The Muttart Conservatory’s current feature exhibition proves that the result is as surreal as it is grounding. Mars at the Muttart shows us all that we can gain, as well as all that we can lose — it is a step into the future, without leaving the present.

Mars is British artist Luke Jerram’s latest planetary project. Jerram has previously created sculptures of the sun and moon, as well as Earth. Mars has a diameter of seven meters — while it may be a miniature, but it still feels huge. It dangles from the ceiling of the pyramid, spinning continuously.

Jerram used real NASA data to create Mars. Every crater and canyon is visible in crisp detail, and the orange-brown landscape is as vivid as it is barren. The transparent glass pyramid makes it look almost as if the planet is floating in the sky. Stargazers can lay down on soft pillows to admire Mars from below.

The music profoundly changes the exhibit’s atmosphere. All by itself, Mars would be mysterious and otherworldly, but probably wouldn’t be as dramatic. Together with the music, however, there is no doubting that Mars is the centerpiece.

Composed by Dan Jones, the orchestral tunes are forceful and cinematic. It leaves no room for tranquility. The heavy orchestral swells endower Mars with grandeur, and make it seem even bigger. Even when there is peace, the peace is tense — you are fully at the mercy of space, and Mars is king.

Although there are plenty of lulls and some moments of gentle, fluttering mystery, the overall tone of the music is commanding and strong. I felt as though I was watching the introduction to a cutting-edge documentary about the universe. The high bell-tones inspired a sense of alien wonder, while spiralling, abstract melodies seemed to imitate the voyages of stars.

The down-to-earth landscape of the surrounding garden is in stark contrast to both the music and the sculpture. The flowers are a tether to Earth, and never let us forget that we’re standing on solid ground. I interpreted the contrast as a reminder that while we may wish to reach for the wonders of space, there are plenty of wonders down here as well.

Splotches of red and yellow flowers match the Martian landscape. They peek out from a sea of greenery, as special as the planet itself. The greenness compliments the orange of Mars, and makes it even brighter.

These days, with all of humanity’s advancements, Mars can feel close enough to touch. Jerram reimagined this dream and brought it tantalizingly close to reality.

You can explore the exhibit at the Muttart Conservatory until April 27.