posted 02-27-2024 03:25 PM               

The works in "Jeff Koons: Moon Phases" each correspond to a distinct phase of the Moon — 62 phases of the Moon as seen from the Earth, 62 views of the Moon as seen from different vantage points in space, and one lunar eclipse.

The artworks within "Moon Phases" are each associated with people who have made accomplishments in human history. The list of names is universal, including individuals from various parts of the world, fields, and time periods, with Plato, Nefertiti, Artemisia Gentileschi, Andy Warhol, Gabriel García Márquez, Mahatma Gandhi, Sojourner Truth, Leonardo da Vinci, Ada Lovelace, David Bowie, and Helen Keller among them. These and other names are individually displayed in front of the "Moon Phases," memorializing the figures on the occasion of the Moon mission. In this way, Koons honors some of the greatest achievements of the past to inspire future generations.

• The 125 miniature Moon sculptures, each approximately one inch in diameter, are displayed together on the Moon in a sustainably built, fully transparent, compartmentalized cube. Grouped together, the different "Moon Phases," along with the names associated with each phase, represent a collective.
  

• Each unique NFT is paired with a sculpture that resides on the Moon within the cube and a sculpture that resides on the Earth, cultivating connections between the digital and physical worlds. The NFT itself includes an image of the sculptures installed on the Moon's surface, as well as other images. Along with the other two components of "Moon Phases," the NFT features Jeff Koons's iconic signature.

• The project also includes 125 larger sculptures depicting the Moon that are approximately 15.5 inches tall and remain on Earth. These large spheres of the Moon with its detailed surface are mirror reflective stainless-steel — like Koons's iconic "Rabbit" — with transparent colors depicting the colors of the Moon's surface, enabling viewers to enter a dialogue with the artwork and the individual whose name is associated with each phase of the Moon.

With these works, Koons continues to explore themes of connectivity and acceptance, which have become hallmarks of his practice. The sculptures remaining on Earth feature a precious stone, either a white diamond, yellow diamond, blue sapphire, green emerald, or red ruby. The stone's position on the sculptures indicate the location of the landing site on the Moon, which will become a Lunar Heritage Site where the related Moon sculptures are installed permanently.