The world’s costliest residing artist, Jeff Koons, made historical past following the touchdown of the Odysseus spacecraft Thursday, turning into the primary artist to formally have a bit displayed on the Moon whereas concurrently providing matching NFTs of the art work.
“Cultivating Connections Between the Digital and Bodily Worlds”
Powered by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, area exploration firm Intuitive Machines, and NASA, spacecraft Odysseus’ profitable Thursday touchdown marks the primary mission to the touch down on the Moon in over half a century. To commemorate the launch, Koons designed a multi-component sculpture specializing in “the Moon as a logo of human curiosity and the need to realize,” a press release on the venture’s web site reads.
Only a couple hours away from the launch at 1AM EST Feb 14 of my artworks Moon Phases on Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission. The pictures seize the Nova-C lunar lander being encapsulated on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. I’m honored to have the primary approved art work on the Moon. pic.twitter.com/RpuSjbr7de
— Jeff Koons (@JeffKoons) February 13, 2024
Entitled Jeff Koons: Moon Phases, the artist’s newest work is comprised of three components: 125 miniature moon sculptures “put in on the Moon in perpetuity,” 125 bigger mirror-reflective stainless-steel sculptures of the Moon to stay on Earth, in addition to corresponding NFTs encapsulating each parts.
“Every distinctive NFT is paired with a sculpture that can reside on the Moon throughout the dice and a sculpture that can reside on the Earth, cultivating connections between the digital and bodily worlds,” the venture’s web site reads. “The NFT itself will embrace a picture of the sculptures put in on the Moon’s floor, in addition to different photos. Together with the opposite two parts of Moon Phases, the NFT will characteristic Jeff Koons’s iconic signature.”
Inspiring Future Generations Via Previous Achievements
Partnering with female-owned area firm 4Space, every part is called after “individuals who have made accomplishments in human historical past,” together with Albert Einstein, Susan B. Anthony, Michelangelo, and extra.
“These and different names will likely be individually displayed in entrance of the Moon Phases, memorializing the figures on the event of the Moon mission,” the venture’s web site states. “On this manner, Koons honors a few of the biggest achievements of the previous to encourage future generations.”
An Out Of This World Artwork Piece
Koons’ NFTs, launched via Tempo Gallery’s digital artwork platform, Tempo Verso, will enable artwork lovers, area fans, and NFT collectors alike to personal a bit of historical past.
“The sculptures remaining on the Earth will characteristic a treasured stone, both a white diamond, yellow diamond, blue sapphire, inexperienced emerald, or pink ruby,” the venture web site reads. “The stone’s place on the sculptures will point out the situation of the touchdown web site on the Moon, which can develop into a Lunar Heritage Web site the place the associated Moon sculptures will likely be put in completely.”
The world of excessive artwork usually has ties with Web3 – simply this week, public sale home Sotheby’s made headlines for its sale of Ether Rock, “an early NFT collectible.”
Moon Phases, nevertheless, seems to be Koons’ first foray into the NFT area.
“I’m so honored to have “Moon Phases” be the primary approved art work to be positioned on the Moon,” a latest Instagram caption by the famend artist reads.
Extra details about the venture may be discovered at jeffkoonsmoonphases.com.
