When mythology meets the cosmos
What happens when ancient myth encounters cutting-edge space technology? With Chang E Flying to the Moon, Chinese multimedia artist Jacky Tsai sends the legendary moon goddess into outer space – aboard the world’s first fully art-painted rocket.
From reinterpreting traditional Chinese craftsmanship to large-scale interventions that set art into physical motion, Jacky Tsai has developed a bold visual language that bridges China’s past and present. His work seamlessly merges Eastern storytelling with contemporary aesthetics – poetic, political, and visionary.
In his latest project, Tsai turns to Chinese folklore, centring on the moon goddess Chang E as a symbol of longing, transformation, and collective imagination. The ancient myth becomes a cosmic narrative, reimagined for the age of space exploration.
“To witness my artwork launched into space on a real rocket is one of the most emotional moments of my career. Through this project, I hope to send our shared dreams and imagination truly into the cosmos.”
Earlier this year, Tsai collaborated with commercial space company LandSpace, sending his artwork beyond the Kármán line. The ZQ-2E Y2 rocket became the first fully art-painted rocket to enter outer space. Tsai’s short documentary Chang E Flying to the Moon traces the realisation of this pioneering project, blurring the boundary between visual art and space exploration.
A poetic reminder that art, like imagination, knows no limits – not even gravity.
