Dredged Dreams (original: Hopper, Nighthawks)
In February 2024 the Nova-C lander Odysseus (IM-1) became the first commercial spacecraft to complete a soft landing on the Moon since Apollo 17. On board was a Lunar Library Capsule carrying an archive of artworks, music, literature and digital material by creators from across the world. Among the artists whose work reached the lunar surface was Joe Finch, in the company of figures such as Picasso, Michelangelo and Jeff Koons.
To make it clear that we are almost past the climate tipping point for our planet, Finch has filled world-famous paintings with water and, by merging the future and the past, created it in a dystopian work.
The Rural Chaos (original: Grant Wood, American Gothic)
Launching on February 15 at 1:05 AM EST, the Nova-C lander Odysseus (IM-1) departed NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.
It marked America’s first return to the moon in over 50 years. After a long journey, the lunar lander touched down on the moon’s surface on February 22, 2024.
For his contribution Finch focused on the theme of Climate Change. While acknowledging the honor of participating in a historic milestone, he felt compelled to point to the environmental cost of space exploration, especially the carbon footprint left by such missions.
The Rapture (original: Michelangelo, The creation of Adam)
Finch shared his thoughts:
“As an artist, I feel honored to be part of this groundbreaking mission to the moon. In this way, we can collectively embrace our responsibility and take action for a more sustainable future, even reaching the far corners of the universe.”
The impactful collection of artwork by international artists has been exhibited worldwide, including at Climate Week in NYC, the Blue Zone of COP28, and NASA’s launch gala on the evening of the historic liftoff. In the coming years, the artist's works will continue to be displayed globally.
By bringing this tension into the work, Finch turned a celebration of human achievement into a moment of reflection, linking the expansion of our horizons in space to the urgent need for care and responsibility on Earth.
