Shepparton artist Christine Broersen’s artwork will be heading to the moon next year after landing a spot on the Lunar Codex project.
Photo by
Kelly Carmody
Early next year, when gazing at the luminous moon in the night sky, Shepparton artist Christine Broersen will be able to say, “A part of me is on the moon”.
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It might sound unbelievable, and even she acknowledges the surreal nature of it, but it’s true — a collection of her art right now is in preparation to make its way there.
Lunar Codex is the name of the ambitious project founded by Canadian physicist, artist and entrepreneur Samuel Peralta, and it’s a project that is being talked about all over the world.
Split across three launches, one of which has already landed, tens of thousands of works from a diverse group of artists from almost every country in the world have a reserved spot on SpaceX and United Launch Alliance Moon missions.
In short, it’s like a contemporary encoded format time capsule sending a collection of art, literature, music and other cultural artefacts to the moon aboard lunar landers that are scheduled as part of various space missions.
These landers are part of commercial missions supported by NASSA’s Artemis program and hope to create a lasting legacy of human culture on the moon.
“I don’t really understand the science behind it that well, but it’s really exciting,” Christine said.
“It’s mind-blowing that works can be decoded in this way and sent to the moon and withstand the harsh conditions of space.
“What a very clever global endeavour and I’m so thankful to Graeme Stevenson’s Put Some Colour In Your Life series that I was a part of in 2017 that has allowed me to be a part of the project.”
The Put Some Colour In Your Life series is an Australian TV show and online platform created by Graeme Stevenson in 2011.
The show focuses on showcasing artists from around the world, giving viewers an in-depth look at their creative processes, techniques and personal journeys.
The series, which Christine was a part of in season 15, aims to inspire and educate by bringing the art community closer together and making art more accessible to a broader audience.
Each episode typically features a different artist, who shares their approach to their medium — whether it be painting, sculpture or another form of visual art.
The show emphasises not only the technical aspects of creating art, but also the emotional and inspirational stories behind the artists’ works.
And now it’s been decoded for the Lunar Codex project and is heading to the moon with Christine’s episode on board.
“Sadly, Graeme has now passed, but someone has taken over the series. He was such a wonderful man, and being a part of it was incredible,” she said.
“I must admit, though, leading up to the day of filming, I was terrified. I don’t even like my photo being taken, so to be filmed was quite nerve-racking.
“But I did it for my grandkids. I’ve only got one, but if I ever have others that make their way to planet earth, I could be dead, so I did it for them and my family and nothing else.
“I’ve never watched it all the way through because I can’t stand the sound of my own voice, but I never would have dreamed of doing something like it, and I am so glad I did.”
Looking at Christine’s art, you’d think you were seeing a photograph.
Specialising in pastels and painting with a focus on still life and portraits, realism has been calling, and her work is nothing short of stunning.
Renowned for capturing the subtleties of light, shadow, see-through elements, vibrant colours and intricate details that display wondrous depth, each piece is a beautiful representation of her talent and showcases her creativity.
At 70, after a 30-year career in the arts with a plethora of prestigious awards to her name, Christine is now starting to look at semi-retirement and making a bit more time for travel.
However, she intends to create art until she can no longer hold a pastel or paintbrush in her hand, and said she would try with her teeth if it had to come to it.
Art continues to bring her joy, and as of next year, no matter where her travels take her, one thing will remain constant.
Most nights, she’ll be looking up into the sky — toward the moon.
“I think about how lucky everyone is to be on this ride, and some people don’t even realise they’re on it,” Christine said.
“Literature from Shakespeare and Roald Dahl, music from the Beatles and Rolling Stones, and so many figures from world history — it’s all up there forever. It’s wonderful.
“What’s incredible is that it represents the whole world, not just famous people.
“Everyday people like me, who simply love art, are up there too. It’s not just for those who made it on earth; we get to go to the moon too.
“I’ll always have that funny feeling every time I look at the moon, like a special connection, knowing there’s a piece of me up there and I am a part of a special lasting legacy from here on earth.”
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