Dutch art on the moon
Lunaprise, a spacecraft loaded with art and human expression, has landed on the moon.
In the vast universe, few human creations have ventured beyond the atmosphere of our planet. One of the remarkable achievements to have done so is the Lunaprise Arts and Humanity Time Capsule, a spacecraft telling the story of human civilization through the lens of 222 artists from the past 2,000 years.
On February 15 at 1:05 AM EST, the Lunaprise rocket launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. It marked America’s first return to the moon in over 50 years. After a long journey, the lunar lander touched down on the moon’s surface on February 22, 2024, carrying digital works from master artists across literature, music, and various cultural domains—a testament to humanity’s journey on Earth.
Among this so-called “moon library” of human expression is the acclaimed documentary Climate Refugees, created in 2010 by filmmaker Michael P. Nash. As the only documentary included in the mission, Nash, alongside SpaceBlue’s Dallas Santana, reached out to artists worldwide, inviting fewer than 25 to create their own artworks inspired by the message and imagery of this award-winning film. This collaboration resulted in The Climate Refugees LunarArt Collection, a collection that highlights the human face of climate change. The works of these talented global artists accompanied Nash’s film in the time capsule sent to the moon.
One of the artists, Joe Finch from Amsterdam, shared his thoughts:
“As an artist, I feel honored to be part of this groundbreaking mission to the moon. In this way, we can collectively embrace our responsibility and take action for a more sustainable future, even reaching the far corners of the universe.”
The impactful collection of artwork by international artists has been exhibited worldwide, including at Climate Week in NYC, the Blue Zone of COP28, and NASA’s launch gala on the evening of the historic liftoff. In the coming years, the artists’ works will continue to be displayed globally.
In essence, the moon time capsule, the Climate Refugees documentary, and the accompanying art collection tell a hopeful story of unity and collaboration. They remind us of our shared humanity and the collective responsibility we bear to create a better future. As the capsule travels through space and rests on the moon’s surface, it serves as a profound reminder of our past and our shared destiny.