Watch: Time-lapse of world's biggest balloon sculpture in Edinburgh

The world's biggest balloon sculpture has been unveiled today as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

Filling the grand gallery at the city’s National Museum of Scotland, the colossal balloon sculpture created by celebrated American artist Jason Hackenwerth.

Entitled Event Horizon, the sculpture is Jason’s largest ever artwork and is made up from more than 25,000 balloons.

It took a team of 13 people approximately 50 hours each over a total of six days to create what is currently the world’s biggest balloon sculpture.

Entitled 'Event Horizon' the sculpture is currently the biggest balloon sculpture in the world.

Jason Hackenwerth previously wowed Science Festival audiences in 2013 with his work Pisces.

The American’s latest effort is part of Existence: Life and Beyond a new Science Festival-created interactive exhibition which opened at the National Museum of Scotland on 31 March.

The exhibition, which will guide visitors from the origins to the future of life, was developed with support from Creative Scotland through the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund and supported by the Year of Young People 2018 event fund.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “This unveiling of Jason Hackenwerth’s sculpture as part of this year’s Edinburgh International Science Festival is really exciting, merging art with science - and certainly one of the highlights of the festival’s rich programme of events. I commend the Science Festival for their continued commitment to ensuring international audiences come together in Scotland every year.

World-renowned American artist Jason Hackenwerth whose Pisces vowed the Science Festival audiences in 2013 returns to Edinburgh with his biggest creation yet.

“I am pleased that the Scottish Government supported this year’s edition of the Festival by providing £130,000 Expo funding for Existence: Life and Beyond and Synthetica. As we celebrate 2018 Year of Young People, this funding will ensure the festival can continue to present cutting-edge technology showcase and innovative events for our teenagers and young people.”

Experiential artist Jason Hackenwerth said: “I am very pleased to be back at the Science Festival with my biggest work yet, Event Horizon. Using balloons to make sculptures has magical results as well as built-in challenges: the works are instantly recognisable as an exuberant celebration of life, and require no deep understanding of art to enjoy, but are temporary. This fleeting fact increases its rarity and urgency to see it while it lasts. I hope the Science Festival audiences will enjoy getting lost in the gigantic rotating chasm of the Event Horizon.”

Event Horizon will be on show at the museum until 22 April.

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