Belgian artist Paul van Hoeydonck, maker of first artwork on Maan, died (Wijnegem)
© Archive images
The Belgian artist Paul van Hoeydonck, maker of the first and for a long time the only art object on the Moon, died on Saturday afternoon at the age of 99. His family reported this in a press release. He died peacefully at home, in the presence of his wife Marleen.
Source: Belga
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« A few weeks ago we were still with him to celebrate his 99th and half birthday, » writes Philip Heylen, friend of the artist and honorary ships of Antwerp in the press release. « At that time it was clear that his light was gradually getting out. It is somewhat unreal that Paul is no longer there. You almost started to think that he was going to be there for eternity. And perhaps that is true, thanks to his enormous legacy. He continues to communicate with us through his works. »
Read too. Art collector shows works by almost 100-year-old Paul van Hoeydonck in the Bijl
Van Hoeydonck, born on October 8, 1925 in Antwerp, was a versatile artist: sculptor, painter, draftsman, collage artist and graphic artist. As a modern sculptor, he worked with modern materials such as bronze, chrome steel, plexi, polyester and ‘mixed media’.
There has been a work of art by Paul van Hoeydonck on the Moon since 1971. – © Jan van der Perre, RR
However, he is best known because of the ‘Fallen Astronaut’ statue, which was left on the moon by the astronauts of Apollo-15 in 1971 as a homage to killed colleagues. Immediately it was also the only artwork on our natural satellite, until February last year 125 miniscelling hours of the American artist Jeff Koons landed on the moon.
