The Moon as a Canvas
Danny Merk’s Legacy in the Lunaprise Mission
On February 22, 2024, history wrote a new chapter with the landing of the Odysseus lunar lander on the Moon's surface. On board was the Lunaprise, an advanced time capsule designed to archive the essence of human culture for a billion years. A pivotal component of this archive is the 'Climate Refugees Artist Collaboration', in which artist Danny Merk plays a prominent role alongside some of the world's most influential environmental advocates.
A Fusion of Art, Activism, and Technology
Danny Merk’s participation is part of a global movement spearheaded by filmmaker Michael P. Nash and high-profile backers. Notably, Academy Award-winning actor and activist Leonardo DiCaprio, along with his father, artist and producer George DiCaprio, serve as Executive Producers for the project's evolution. Their involvement underscores the existential importance of the message being sent to the stars.
Physically on the Moon: His art is engraved with extreme precision onto nickel Nanofiche discs. These are built to withstand electromagnetic pulses and cosmic radiation, ensuring they remain readable for a billion years.
The Human Face of the Climate Crisis
The collection is deeply rooted in the acclaimed documentary 'Climate Refugees'. The project is currently expanding into a sequel titled Chasing Truth, executive produced by the DiCaprios. Danny Merk’s contribution serves as an artistic translation of this urgent global theme. Where raw data often falls short, Merk’s art captures the emotional reality of climate displacement.
"Merk’s works function as 'future cave paintings,' telling potential discoverers the story of the beauty and the struggle of the human condition at the start of the 21st century."
