ESA: Webb - She/He Sees Farther
Client: ESA - European Space Agency
Illustrator: Davide Bonazzi
Art director: Sebastiano Barcaroli
Year: 2021
Illustrator: Davide Bonazzi
Art director: Sebastiano Barcaroli
Year: 2021
I've been asked to create a poster illustration celebrating the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope mission, which is an international partnership between NASA, ESA and CSA. Webb is the next great space science observatory following Hubble, designed to make breakthrough discoveries in all fields of astronomy. With a height of 6.5 m (21 ft), Webb is the largest telescope ever launched into space. Webb will see farther into our origins from the formation of stars and planets, to the birth of the first galaxies in the early universe.
The hexagons are a recurring motif in this illustration, since the telescope's primary mirror consists of 18 hexagonal mirror segments of gold-plated beryllium. We made two versions of the same subject, one with a female and the other with a male character.
We also produced a limited edition of 100 numbered and signed Fine Art prints, enriched by some special golden details.
We also produced a limited edition of 100 numbered and signed Fine Art prints, enriched by some special golden details.
Below are a few preliminary and rejected concepts. Many of them features the hexagon as the most iconic visual landmark. Another constant was the mood of astonishment and magnificence provoked by the exploration of the early universe.
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