An epic scale model of the solar system designed by the artist Oliver Jeffers and scientist Professor Stephen Smartt, Our Place in Space is a playful experiment that asks: What happens to your perspective when you look back at Planet Earth from Space?
Our Place in Space will see an interactive three-dimensional (3D) sculpture trail installed in parks and lakes across central Hanoi for two weeks in November, accompanied by an exciting STEAM-based learning and events programme. Our Place in Space Hanoi will be delivered by a joint UK / Viet Nam creative team, led by the Nerve Centre and Think Playgrounds.
The trail will stretch over 8km through central Hanoi. Starting from Thong Nhat Park, passing Hoan Kiem Lake and ending the 5 billion km road (in space) at Hanoi Botanical Garden.
On our scale of 591million to 1, the Sun, a magnificent celestial giant, is reduced to a mere 2.35m in diameter. Earth, our home, shrinks to a tiny 2.2cm and Pluto is just a minuscule 4mm.
About the collaborators
Nerve Centre was established in 1990 in Northern Ireland to provide a creative outlet for youth culture and those young people who felt excluded from the arts sector. It has since become many things to many people, from nurturing new music and film talent to its award-winning creative learning activities and culturally significant projects. But one thing remains, its commitment and passion to transform lives through creativity.
Think Playgrounds is a pioneering social enterprise with a mission to promote children's "Right to play", through multidisciplinary community and professional collaborations to build environmentally friendly playgrounds, biodiversity, and sustainable public spaces.
How to take part
The trail is available to visit every day for 2 weeks, from 12 to 24 November 2023. However, we recommend visiting during the weekend when Trần Nhân Tông street and Hoan Kiem Lake are closed to traffic for the best experience. Gates at the Botanical Garden will close at 10pm.