Artist behind moon's first sculpture, Paul van Hoeydonck, dies at 99
Paul Van Hoeydonck, a Belgian artist renowned for creating the first sculpture left on the Moon, has died at the age of 99. His work, "Fallen Astronaut," commemorates astronauts who have lost their lives during space missions.
Paul Van Hoeydonck, a Belgian painter, graphic artist, and sculptor, passed away on Saturday in Antwerp with his beloved wife by his side. He was the creator of the first artwork left on the Moon.
His aluminum sculpture "Fallen Astronaut" was placed on the Moon's surface by the Apollo 15 crew in 1971. The sculpture was meant to honour 14 astronauts who died during space missions.
"Fallen Astronaut" - a symbol of humanity
Van Hoeydonck intended his work to represent all of humanity, but the intentions of the astronauts who commissioned the sculpture were somewhat different. The piece was left on Mons Hadley, a massif on the Moon's northern hemisphere, along with a plaque containing the names of the deceased astronauts.
The artist had to abandon plans to sell replicas of the "Fallen Astronaut" because NASA prohibits the commercial use 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 can be found in the collections of renowned institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Guggenheim Museum. His work, which bridges art and 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 known for his sculptures resembling balloon figures, were added. This demonstrates how space art evolves and takes on new forms.
