The West End will be turned into a "cosmic playground" in March, featuring "surrealist public art and space science."
This is part of the return of Art of London's free late-night programme, Art After Dark.
The event, lasting from March 6 to March 8, will be orchestrated by eco-feminist artist Dr Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian, the founder of NASA’s International Space Orchestra.
The central theme, 'Piccadilly Un:Plugged,' will encourage the public to look beyond the city’s skyline and into the cosmos, in anticipation of the upcoming lunar eclipse.
Piccadilly Circus will feature iridescent asteroid-sized moon rocks and two giant inflatable UV-reactive sculptures inspired by Schrödinger’s quantum physics paradox, nicknamed the ‘Cats’.
Cutting-edge interstellar technology will also be used to send recordings from the West End and the heartbeats of Dr Hayoun-Stépanian's Armenian family to the moon and back, through Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) communication.
The audio signals received from the moon will be broadcast in Piccadilly Circus, creating an "unique astronomical soundscape."
London will become a "portal" to explore the night sky during ‘galaxy season,’ a time when distant galaxies are most visible.
The public will be guided by scientists and representatives from the SETI Institute (Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence) to use UNISTELLAR’s advanced telescopes for views of nebulae and planets like Jupiter.
Dr Hayoun-Stépanian said: "I am so thrilled to be able to develop this creative and participative work in my beloved open city of London and in the vibrant West End.
"Piccadilly Un:Plugged is a visual, experiential, and sonic experience with a good dose of alien aesthetics."
Space-themed ceramic artworks created through workshops with local youth groups will be displayed at the Cabinet of Curiosities in St James’s Market Pavilion.
Complementing the cosmic spectacle will be bookable art tours hosted by Art of London and late-night gallery openings at celebrated cultural institutions, including the National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery, and Royal Academy of Arts.
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