Belgian artist who left a mark on the moon dies at 99
Paul Van Hoeydonck, a Belgian artist known for creating the first sculpture left on the Moon, passed away at the age of 99. His work, "Fallen Astronaut," honors astronauts who lost their lives during space missions.
Van Hoeydonck, also a painter and graphic artist, died on Saturday in Antwerp, surrounded by his beloved wife. He is renowned for creating the first piece of art placed on the Moon.
His aluminum sculpture "Fallen Astronaut" was placed on the Moon's surface by the Apollo 15 crew in 1971, commemorating 14 astronauts who perished during space missions.
"Fallen Astronaut" - a symbol of humanity
Van Hoeydonck intended his work to represent all of humanity, though the astronauts who commissioned the sculpture had somewhat different intentions. The artwork was left on Mons Hadley, a massif in the Moon's northern hemisphere, alongside a plaque displaying the names of the deceased astronauts.
The artist abandoned plans to sell replicas of "Fallen Astronaut" because NASA prohibits the commercial exploitation of themes related to the American space program. For many years, Van Hoeydonck's sculpture was the only piece of art on the Moon.
Van Hoeydonck's works are included in the collections of prestigious institutions, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Guggenheim Museum. His creativity, which merges art with science, continues to inspire future generations of artists and space enthusiasts.
New works on the Moon
In 2024, 125 small sculptures by Jeff Koons, an American artist famous for sculptures resembling balloon figures, will join it. This demonstrates how space art is evolving and taking on new forms.
