Award-Winning Artist Tara Shakti to Have Work Launched to the Moon

Tara Shakti, an award-winning artist, has dedicated her career to creating empowering paintings that address critical issues affecting women, such as human trafficking and systemic oppression. Her commitment to highlighting these concerns stems from her personal experiences growing up in an environment where women faced mistreatment. Shakti's artistic journey has taken an extraordinary turn as her work is set to be included in the Lunar Codex project, a historic initiative that aims to preserve human creativity on the moon. The Lunar Codex project will send the works of 35,000 contemporary artists, writers, and creators to the lunar surface, utilizing a high-density storage medium designed to endure for billions of years. Shakti's five paintings will be part of the Codex Polaris time capsule, which is scheduled for launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in February 2025. The project is facilitated by the Astrobotic Griffin lunar lander, which will also carry NASA's VIPER rover as its primary payload. Shakti expressed her profound honor at having her work launched to the moon, viewing it as a significant achievement for both herself and the Malagasy art community. She emphasized the importance of her heritage and the stories she aims to convey through her art. While she is currently the only confirmed Malagasy artist in the project, the initiative encourages other artists from Madagascar and beyond to submit their work for potential inclusion. The Lunar Codex project has already featured works from notable artists, including U.S. poet laureate Ada Limón and Cuban American artist Didi Mendez, showcasing a diverse array of creative voices in this unprecedented endeavor.