7:56AM, Tue Aug 7, 2012

Mariner 9: Vision Of Future Mars Arrives At Whitley Bay’s Spanish City

By Nisha Joshi Location: Whitley Bay

Video: Is this the Mars of the future?

The world premiere of Mariner 9 – a visual art installation depicting a futuristic planet Mars, has gone on show at Whitley Bay’s Spanish City

The 12m long installation has been created by Canadian artist Kelly Richardson.

It is the first major artist commission by Tyneside Cinema, in partnership with North Tyneside Council, supported by Arts Council England and sponsored by Creative Studios, part of Tyne Metropolitan College.

Mariner 9’s opening was timed to coincide with the landing of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory - “Curiosity”, on the red planet.

The artwork uses NASA’s own imagery and technical data of the Martian landscape to generate a life-like depiction of the planet approximately 200 years into the future.

It also uses Terragen - a complex scenery generation software used by film and gaming industries to help replicate Mars’ distinctive geology, weather patterns and soundscape.

While Mariner 9 is on show, Tyneside Cinema is presenting a programme of films, talks and music events in the Spanish City Dome. For more information click here.

Mariner 9 will be on display at Spanish City until August 19.