British artist Sacha Jafri on sending first official artwork to the Moon

Sacha Jafri, born in the United Kingdom, is a contemporary British artist known for the painting, the astronomically large canvas Journey of Humanity. It is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records over seven months during the COVID-19 pandemic in Dubai.

The painting measuring over 17,000 square feet. It was described as the world’s biggest painting. It is purchased by French crypto businessman Andre Abdoune for $62m.

Jafri also works with several charities and counts preeminent names such as Barack Obama, Sir Richard Branson, Paul McCartney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill Gates, Madonna, David Beckham, George Clooney, Mona Kattan, Huda Kattan, and Eva Longoria, among his clients.

At the US Pavilion at the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, the British artist and a group of space industry executives have announced the plans to permanently install work by Jafri on the moon.

On Wednesday Jafri revealed his artwork that will travel to the Moon on the 50th anniversary of Nasa’s Apollo 16 mission.

The artwork, We Rise Together – with the Light of the Moon. It is a heart-shaped design with text executed on aerospace-grade Aluminum covered with gold.

Jafri said during the conference that “This plate will last forever”, also added that it showcases the representation of Humanity. It gives the feeling of getting away from hatred, discrimination, etc.

He used an aerospace-grade Aluminum gold plate as his canvas for the artwork, which makes it fully resilient to lunar conditions, this allows it to last an eternity on the Moon.

On the golden plate is a big heart made up of little hearts and uplifting messages like: “From the darkness comes the light” and “In beauty, we live”.

A UAE-based company called Selenian will carry out the mission. The company specializes in the curation of art in space. It is in association with Spacebit, Astrobotic, and Nasa through its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.

The landing site of the artwork is expected to become a world heritage landmark.