Jeff Koons in Space
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, under the supervision of Houston-based company Intuitive Machines, achieved two significant milestones: Firstly, it marked the United States' return to lunar surface landing after more than 50 years, and secondly, it launched Jeff Koons’ sculpture into space. This event signifies the first American craft to touch down on the Moon since 1972 and also marks the debut of a privately owned spacecraft on the lunar surface. However, more importantly, for this article, attached to the side of its Odysseus spacecraft, is a container carrying the sculptures. This creation now holds the name of being the first “authorized” artwork on the Moon.
Jeff Koons’ “Moon Phases” project at Art Basel 2022. Credit: Sebastien Bozon/Agence France-Presse, Getty Images.
Aptly named “Moon Phases,” the artwork comprises 125 unique stainless steel balls representing the various lunar phases. It intricately depicts 62 phases of the moon as observed from Earth, 62 from alternative viewpoints in space, and one lunar eclipse. These miniature moons were securely attached to the exterior of the spacecraft in a specially designed box. Each of the meticulously crafted sculptures bears the name of a significant figure in human history, ranging from Aristotle and Leonardo da Vinci to David Bowie and Billie Holiday, paying homage to their groundbreaking contributions to society. Koons revealed that the launch of his miniature moons signifies just the first phase of the project. Part of the artwork will remain on Earth, as a larger version of each sculpture encased in glass, which will be available for collectors, and as NFTs documenting the installation of the lunar landing.
Jeff Koons, “Moon Phases”.
Jeff Koons’ “Moon Phases” installed on the Odysseus spacecraft. From Jeff Koons/Instagram.
Reflecting on the project’s significance, Koons reminisced about his childhood and the influence of President Kennedy’s vision for lunar exploration. “I grew up listening to President Kennedy speak about going to the moon,” Koons remarked in an interview prior to the launch. “It gave our society a vision and drive that we could believe in ourselves and accomplish things.” The spark of inspiration for the project originated from an unexpected source – his son, Sean Koons, who brought forth the idea after stumbling upon a proposal to send art to the moon. This ambitious endeavor materialized through a collaborative effort involving the digital arts and technology company NFMoon, the space exploration company 4Space, and the generous support of Pace Gallery. After the successful touchdown on the lunar surface, Koons expressed his awe at the monumental achievement. In an Instagram post, he described the moon landing as an “astounding achievement” and expressed his profound honor at being involved in the historic moment.
Jeff Koons posing with his artwork. From Jeff Koons/Instagram.
Indeed, Koons’ artwork is not the first to reach the lunar surface. The first was in 1971 during the Apollo 15 mission, where Belgian artist Paul Van Hoeydonck created “Fallen Astronaut”, an 8.9 cm aluminum sculpture depicting a stylized astronaut. The figure was masterfully designed to be lightweight, sturdy, and capable of withstanding the Moon’s extreme temperature fluctuations. It was placed by David Scott on August 1, 1971, alongside a commemorative plaque bearing the names of 14 astronauts and cosmonauts who died in service. Numerous other artistic attempts to conquer space have vanished into its vastness. More recently, in a 2018 collaboration with the Nevada Museum of Art, Trevor Paglen launched the $1.5 million satellite dubbed “Orbital Reflector”, a reflective Mylar sculpture. Paglen wanted his creation to be the first ‘purely artistic’ object in space. Initially, it was anticipated that the satellite would stay in orbit for approximately three months before disintegrating upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. However, due to the federal government shutdown, it was postponed. By the end of it, the museum's engineers had lost communication with the satellite. It ended up lost in orbit and is now just space junk.
An image showing Koons’ “Moon Phases” on the lander’s exterior. Credit: Intuitive Machines/AP.
