Most artists aspire to exhibit their work in art galleries or museums. Well, in contrast to the British painter based in Dubai named Sacha Jafri. His paintings will soar beyond the sky as his work will be permanently displayed on the Moon.
The project was announced on February 23 at the Expo 2020 USA Pavilion in Dubai. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, the effort will be one of the first commercial lunar missions to be undertaken under NASA's CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative.
Key partners on the mission include the UK-based space exploration company Spacebit, the American company Astrobotic Technology, which manufactures systems for delivering cargo to the Moon, and the United Arab Emirates-based company Selenian, which specializes in curating the art of outer space.
Although Spacebit is currently developing its own multi-legged lunar rover, the artwork will be brought to the Moon later this year via a launch vehicle provided by the Colorado-based United Launch Alliance, then placed on the Moon's surface by one of Astrobatic's rover. The work will be accompanied by various scientific instruments, for use in studies carried out by other mission partners.
Titled We Rise Together - With the Light of the Moon, Jafri's work features an aerospace-standard aluminum 'canvas' plated with gold to withstand the extreme temperatures it must endure on the Moon's surface. It is not yet known how Jafri's painting will be applied to the canvas.
During each separate phase of the mission, including the rocket entering the stratosphere, circling the Earth, and reaching the Moon, an NFT version of Jafri's work will be offered to buyers. Proceeds from the sale will be used to address issues in the areas of health, education, sustainability and equity.
To note, Jafri's latest painting, The Journey of Humanity, sold last year for USD62 million. It became the largest canvas painting in the world, and the second most expensive ever sold at auction by a living artist.
"The placement of my artwork that landed on the Moon, entitled We Rise Together - with the Light of the Moon, aims to reconnect humanity with ourselves, each other, our creators, and ultimately with 'The Soul of the Earth, '" he said as quoted from New Atlas, Thursday (17/3/2022).
“While embarking on an exploratory journey from our inhabited planet to the uninhabited Moon, through space and time, across mountains and stars, to forget what we thought we knew and relearn everything through an innocent heart, mind and soul, the essence of the most pure from where we have floated so far, aiming to shine a light on our broken planet again, and begin to heal his broken heart."