Wijnegem (Brussels morning newspaper) -the late artist of Antwerp Paul Van Hoeydock, who designed the initial art installation for the moon, died at 99 on Saturday afternoon. His family made this announcement through an official press release. His spirit left his body peacefully at his home with Marleen by his side.
The artist of Antwerp, Paul Van Hoeydock, who designed the first work of art on the moon, left this world peacefully on Saturday afternoon at age 99. Through a press announcement, his family revealed his Pacific Sasside. Through his role as sculptor, Paul Van Hoeydock designed fallen astronaut, which Apollo 15 astronauts installed on the moon in 1971 as an artistic tribute to those who died in space exploration.
“We were with him a few weeks ago to celebrate his 99 and half birthday.” Philip Heylen, friend of the artist and honorary councilor of Antwerp in the press release wrote.
“At that time, it was clear that his light was slowly vanished. It is something unreal that Paul is no longer here. You almost thought that would be here forever. And perhaps that is the case, thanks to Thric’s legacy historian. Works.”
Van Hoeydock was born on October 8, 1925 in Antwerp and became an artist who created sculptures along with painting and graphic works. Through his career, he tried varied contemporary materials, which included bronze, chrome, steel, plexiglass and polyester. The fallen astronaut occupied the only position of works of art on the moon before the American artist Jeff Koons sent 125 mini sculptures to the lunar surface in February 2023.
After his lunar achievement, Van Hoeydock continued to show his work in international places, including the exhibitions of the Guggenheim Museum of Milan and New York. Since Wijnegem moved in 1955 until his death, the city recognized him as an honorary citizen in 2021.
What were the key events in Paul Van Hoeydock’s career and the history of lunar art?
Paul Van Hoeydock became international known in 1971 after his fallen astronaut sculpture received a placement on the moon through Apollo 15 David Scott and James Irwin astronauts.
The monument that astronauts and cosmonauts created for space exploration throughout history exists as a small 8.5 cm aluminum statue. NASA approved the sculpture of the Moon provided that its construction with specific requirements, including light designs with durability and no commercial or nationalist elements are allowed.
Van Hoeydock demonstrated his versatility as a modernist artist when practicing sculpture along with painting and mixed media before becoming famous for his work with the astronaut fallen on the moon. His professional life included exhibition presentations in Milan and New York, who resulted in his art work to be exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum. The placement of the fallen astronaut became the initial and exclusive authorized art in the lunar space that remained for more than five decades to the miniature sculptures of Jeff Koons in February 2024 through a private spatial expedition.
The Apollo 15 mission transported the sculpture of Van Hoeydock, since it marked the fourth lunar mission to put humans on the lunar surface. The crew positioned the work of art with a monument dedicated to fourteen former space exploration personnel.
The absence of precise coordinates has made it impossible to specify the location of the statue, but its existence has permanently established by Hoeydock as artist and historian of space exploration. His death from 2024 at age 99 revived interest in his artistic achievements, especially because the art of space exploration continues to advance alongside commercial operations to the moon.
