In Patio de Sombras we have already considered before the capacity of inspiration that Inert Nature can have. This week, we look again at the sky, to focus on one of the celestial bodies that has most aroused our curiosity, imagination and respect: The Moon.
Its size, movement and changing phases made us think that this object could not be something mundane. During the day was the majestic Sun, caressing our world with its light. The Moon was that mystical object that appeared during the night to watch over us.
The importance that the Moon had varied throughout the centuries. In many cultures this body was recognized as the creator of the world, in others it was simply another member of its pantheon. Constantly representations were made that could explain the creation, nature or order that this nocturnal body has. A production of buildings, religious or artistic material, of exquisite quality and that has been able to reach our days.
Moonlight Sonata, Beethoven.
Would you like to see the latest batch of contributors to our draw? Only one week and you will be able to know how to participate, it’s almost done! Go down to the end to find out what’s new.
From the Great Rational Leap to Smuggled Art
One of the most important moments in the history of science and engineering was when, on July 21, 1969, Neil Armstrong and “Buzz” Aldrin became the first human beings to walk on the Moon. Thousands of people tuned in to their radios and televisions that day, looking forward to this feat humanity had accomplished. “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” were the words that N. Armstrong said as he left the lunar module.
However, this great leap was only made in the field of engineering, and in what would be the definitive victory of the United States in the space race. The part that makes us more human was left behind, forgetting that world destined for the arts, philosophy, sensations and feelings. It was a great step forward for rational humanity.
Perhaps this thought would be the one that appeared in the mind of the sculptor Forrest “Frosty” Myers, who considered the need to gather a small group of six artists, where together they could create a small piece that would reach the Moon: The “Lunar Museum”. The artists who would take part in this work would be Robert Rauschenberg, David Nobros, John Chamberlain, Claes Oldenburg, Forrest Myer and Andy Warhol, with their controversial work that was censored in the pages of the New York Times.
NASA had planned several more Apollo missions that would also target the Moon. Myers tried to introduce art into some of these, but the answer was always silence. The sculptor decided that in order to achieve his goal he would have to create a contraband piece. Something that could be easily inserted into the mission, thanks to the complicity of some employees of the space organization who would also welcome this project.
The piece of art in question had to be tiny, and considering that we are in a decade whose protagonist is technology, it was decided that the support of the work was a tiny chip of 1.9 x 1.3 cm. This support would take the different works created by the artists.
The censorship of Andy Warhol’s piece is due to the polemic of its design. The artist insisted that his work was nothing more than his slightly deformed initials, so that they could be seen as a spacecraft taking off. The problem was in the phallic interpretation of it.
It has not been demonstrated whether this piece of art could finally reach one of the landing legs of the Lunar Module, but if so, we would be in front of the first work of space art.
The great leap of Creativity?
On September 17, 2018, SpaceX announced some details about its latest spacecraft, along with a new private initiative by Japanese businessman Yusaku Maezawa. It was already suspected that the privatization of space travel, and models of space “tourism” could occur in the future, thanks to new private companies in the aerospace sector. What we did not expect was the announcement made by the aforementioned entrepreneur.
Yusaku Maezawa has bought all the tickets for the first private space trip, which aims to orbit the Moon in 2023. But according to his words, he does not want to travel alone, his goal is to bring together different artists from multiple fields (Literature, music, film, theater, photography, architecture …) to travel with him, and produce art fruit of experience.
This time, and thanks to private initiative, it seems that art is the true protagonist of this new space mission. Perhaps it is an impressive advertising and merchandising campaign, perhaps its motives are totally sincere, or maybe there is both in this decision.
What we can see, however, is that the world of Art is the winner of this great leap, which may become a new historical moment in which thousands of people tune our radios, televisions, laptops and mobile phones to observe this journey of a group of artists with a magnate by the Lunar orbit.
If you want to know more information about this peculiar project, the hashtag #DearMoon has been put into operation, to which many artists who want to participate are responding, or you can also visit the project’s website.
And you, what do you think? Do you think it is an initiative that will finally be carried out? Or will it be lost with the passage of time? Does it have value for you that a group of artists travel to space to produce with their experience? Tell us about it!
About our second annual draw!
Here comes the second and last installment of collaborators who are going to make this draw a celebration of architectural and artistic dissemination. And although we can’t wait any longer to tell you how to participate… We have to!