This piece of art will remain on the moon ‘forever’
In 1977, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a mission to explore the solar system and beyond. Each spacecraft carried a ‘golden record’—a copper phonograph disk featuring images, nature sounds, and music, meant to offer a snapshot of life on Earth to any intelligent beings they might encounter. These were the first images ever sent into space.
As the Voyagers journey into interstellar space, artists are now setting their sights on space. In March, a piece by Dubai-based artist and philanthropist Sacha Jafri is set to be placed on the moon.
Jafri’s creation, titled “We Rise Together – By the Light of the Moon,” will launch aboard a United Launch Alliance rocket, powered by engines developed by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. The launch is scheduled for the first week of March at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The piece is an engraving featuring a male and female figure, surrounded by 88 hearts.
Jafri explained that the original design was a stunning heart motif, with two figures intertwined, surrounded by flourishing flora and fauna. He aimed to symbolize ‘the unification of humanity through love and empathy’ in his artwork.
To preserve the piece on the lunar surface, a special gold alloy was developed over two years, ensuring it withstands the harsh conditions of the moon while keeping the artwork intact. However, Jafri notes that the piece isn't just for extraterrestrial art enthusiasts.
When the physical artwork lands on the moon, a small beep will sound in the control room, signaling the release of 88 NFTs for sale back on Earth, according to Jafri.
Jafri intends to donate all the funds raised to humanitarian causes. “My goal is to raise a significant amount of money to support the four critical global issues – health, education, sustainability, and equality,” he shared.
The artwork was commissioned by Spacebit, a UK-based company specializing in space robotics and data analytics. It will be sent to the moon in collaboration with NASA's Commercial Payload Services (CLPS). UAE-based Selenian Network, known for its blockchain expertise, will oversee the launch of the NFTs.
A lunar lander will deliver the artwork to a crater called Lacus Mortis (the Lake of Death), where it will remain permanently. Jafri estimates the mission will take anywhere from five days to two weeks to reach the moon, depending on the mission conditions.
Art in space
Jafri isn’t the only artist sending work beyond Earth. In 2017, Israeli artist Eyal Gever’s sculpture was 3D printed aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Gever collected laughter recordings and used the soundwave patterns to create his piece.
In April of the previous year, Israeli artist Liat Segal, alongside physicist Yasmine Meroz from Tel Aviv University, created a piece of art that could only exist in the unique environment of space.
Tapping into the microgravity conditions in space, the piece titled 'Impossible Object' is a multi-layered structure made of gold-colored metal tubes that released water. While on Earth the water would fall, in space it formed floating elements around the sculpture.
The piece was activated as the International Space Station (ISS) orbited about 400 kilometers above Earth. Meroz and Segal had initially expected the water to form a liquid shell around the structure, but it instead created floating orbs.
Segal reflected, 'We had no idea how water would behave in microgravity – what does a drop of water even look like in space? We're used to holding water in our hands or containers. But here, the water isn't confined by any vessel; it's only contained by the skeleton structure we created.'
As artists venture into the cosmos, Segal envisions groundbreaking innovations.
'A lot of technologies were born from the space race to adapt to this new physical reality,' Segal explained. 'Now, art and culture are stepping into this new realm. It's going to push us to create things we could never have imagined before, things that could not have existed any other way.'
Jafri shares Segal’s excitement about the endless creative potential in space, believing private space missions will unlock new opportunities for artists. 'I think people are tapping into humanity's fascination with space,' he said. 'It's a fresh market for the art world to explore.'
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