Cornwall


<div class="wp-block-create-block-muddy-shopping-2" data-title-side="left"><div class="shopping-item-card large-item"><a href="" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div class="product-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/39E47D11-6575-43E1-80FA-14C80091CE28.jpeg" alt="Space by Luxmuralis at Truro Cathedral 13 - 17 Jan 2025" /></div><h6></h6></a></div><div class="shopping-item-card small-item"><a href="" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div class="product-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/4E156484-CA13-412D-AA8A-A0BEA381C370.jpeg" alt="Space by Luxmuralis at Truro Cathedral 13 - 17 Jan 2025" /></div><h6></h6></a></div></div>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/11907205-3B07-430A-98F8-8C117ACF3C9D-1000x750.jpeg" alt="Space by Luxmuralis at Truro Cathedral 13 - 17 Jan 2025" class="wp-image-35890" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/11907205-3B07-430A-98F8-8C117ACF3C9D-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/11907205-3B07-430A-98F8-8C117ACF3C9D-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/11907205-3B07-430A-98F8-8C117ACF3C9D-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/11907205-3B07-430A-98F8-8C117ACF3C9D.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-space-by-luxmuralis-truro-cathedral-the-lowdown">Space by Luxmuralis Truro cathedral &#8211; <strong>THE LOWDOWN</strong></h2>



<p>Dark January evenings definitely need brightening up and we’ve found just the thing — ‘Space’ is an immersive installation in Truro Cathedral by Luxmuralis. For around 45-minutes forget your earthly highs and lows and stare out to the outer reaches of space, in the comfort of the reassuring cathedral in the heart of the Duchy’s capital. </p>



<p>Designed to transform the way people experience a cathedral, the music is a unique soundtrack, soaring orchestral and contemporary music that provides a compelling soundtrack to the visuals. Combining words, archive footage and mesmerising lights and projections, the visuals allow you to leave your mind, gaze into the vastness of the universe and contemplate, well, thoughts like how small you are and what it might look like at the start (or end) of the world. (And how cool life could be if we all had a soundtrack like we were in a film. No? Just me?)</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cornwall-s-space-history">CORNWALL’S SPACE HISTORY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/11/Goonhilly-and-Barbara-Hepworth-Disc-with-Strings-Moon-1969-©-Bowness-1000x667.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-28950" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/11/Goonhilly-and-Barbara-Hepworth-Disc-with-Strings-Moon-1969-©-Bowness-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/11/Goonhilly-and-Barbara-Hepworth-Disc-with-Strings-Moon-1969-©-Bowness-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/11/Goonhilly-and-Barbara-Hepworth-Disc-with-Strings-Moon-1969-©-Bowness-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/11/Goonhilly-and-Barbara-Hepworth-Disc-with-Strings-Moon-1969-©-Bowness-788x525.jpeg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/11/Goonhilly-and-Barbara-Hepworth-Disc-with-Strings-Moon-1969-©-Bowness.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Goonhilly, left, my image, and right, Barbara Hepworth, Disc with Strings (Moon) 1969 © Bowness</figcaption></figure>



<p>Luxmuralis’ is the artistic collaboration between sculptor Peter Walker and composer David Harper, and “Space” is part of their wider portfolio of installations illuminating sacred spaces across the country. </p>



<p>Standing in the darkness watching the projections of the space landing, beamed onto the cold stone walls; a tiny TV now enormous, the family crowded round it now the visitors to the installation, I thought it was particularly moving to experience this in Cornwall, a Duchy which has a complicated and beautiful relationship with space. Cornwall itself was instrumental in broadcasting the 1969 moon landings.</p>



<p>In 1962 the Goonhilly Earth Station opened on Cornwall’s Lizard peninsular and the now iconic satellites transmitted the moon landings in 1969. </p>



<p>The desolate landscape and curious dishes are sculptural in their very oddness &#8211; lunar almost just like the images they were helping beam into tiny television sets. In fact, they inspired Barbara Hepworth.<br><br>Hepworth visited in 1963 and clearly drew inspiration from both the shapes of the satellites and the moon for sculptures and works made of lead crystal, shown in the exhibition alongside lithographs of celestial bodies. Her vision of the landscape expanded, now encompassing the universe as well as the sand, rocks, moorland, skies, and ever moving Cornish water.</p>



<p>And, of course, <a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/melissa-quinn-thorpe-spaceport-cornwall/">though it didn’t go according to plan</a>, Cornwall was also the site of the UK’s first attempt at a satellite launch, when on 9 January 2023, the UK made history  through Virgin Orbit at Spaceport Cornwall.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/14FF0B7B-EDD0-403E-97EB-6371B3005B4A-1000x750.jpeg" alt="Space by Luxmuralis at Truro Cathedral 13 - 17 Jan 2025" class="wp-image-35889" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/14FF0B7B-EDD0-403E-97EB-6371B3005B4A-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/14FF0B7B-EDD0-403E-97EB-6371B3005B4A-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/14FF0B7B-EDD0-403E-97EB-6371B3005B4A-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/14FF0B7B-EDD0-403E-97EB-6371B3005B4A.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE</h2>



<p>Even with the haunting soaring music it was actually very quiet in the cathedral, more of a gazing in awe than exuberance although the little children twirling in the lights clearly had a different experience! Individual contemplation was the name of the game, mostly.  </p>



<p>Although it was popular, ticket slots are every 20 mins, where one group is admitted to ensure visitor flow, so it didn’t feel overly busy and there was time to stand back and take in what was happening.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/39E47D11-6575-43E1-80FA-14C80091CE28-1000x750.jpeg" alt="Space by Luxmuralis at Truro Cathedral 13 - 17 Jan 2025" class="wp-image-35893" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/39E47D11-6575-43E1-80FA-14C80091CE28-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/39E47D11-6575-43E1-80FA-14C80091CE28-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/39E47D11-6575-43E1-80FA-14C80091CE28-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/39E47D11-6575-43E1-80FA-14C80091CE28.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p>Truro Cathedral is an absolutely beautiful neo-Gothic building, and it is lovely to see it illuminated in such a way with people queuing to see what is happening. There was a buzz of anticipation before the darkness brought on a reverent hush. The music,  composed for the installation, reminded me in parts of Thomas Tallis, who although predated Truro Cathedral by several centuries, seemed also fitting for such soaring arches. </p>



<p><strong>Good for</strong>: Anyone with an even a passing interest in music or culture (or space) will find this fascinating. Fun for families, especially as there is plenty to look at and it’s a short-ish slot of around 45 mins / hour so you’ll be out before anyone cries they’re bored. At £25 for a family it’s not cheap, but it’s not super spenny either.</p>



<p><strong>Not for</strong>: If you’re the kind of person that needs a “point” or purpose or learning from your cultural excursion, be aware this is more of a contemplative exercise than one bashing you with any message. </p>



<p><strong>The damage</strong>: Adults, £10, children £8, under 5s free.  Family ticket £25 (admits 2 adults and up to 5 children)</p>



<p><strong><em>Luxmuralis is at Truro Cathedral from 13 -17 January 2025</em></strong></p>



<p><a href="https://www.trurocathedral.org.uk/luxmuralis-space"><em>trurocathedral.org.uk/luxmuralis-space</em></a></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/4E156484-CA13-412D-AA8A-A0BEA381C370-1000x750.jpeg" alt="Space by Luxmuralis at Truro Cathedral 13 - 17 Jan 2025" class="wp-image-35892" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/4E156484-CA13-412D-AA8A-A0BEA381C370-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/4E156484-CA13-412D-AA8A-A0BEA381C370-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/4E156484-CA13-412D-AA8A-A0BEA381C370-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/01/4E156484-CA13-412D-AA8A-A0BEA381C370.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>


First Look: Space by Luxmuralis at Truro Cathedral, Cornwall

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