(Press Play For Audio Article)
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The 2021 VMA Moon Person Award honors the network’s 40th anniversary of entertainment re-designed by LA-born artist Kehinde Wiley.
The iconic silver trophy, awarded at the VMAs, features lush green vines and brilliant pink florals draped over its silver silhouette. The Moon Person will be the star of the upcoming 2021 VMA event hosted at Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn N.Y. Kehinde Wiley joins the ranks with KAWS and Jeremy Scott who has also contributed to re-designs of the Moon Person Award. Wiley becomes the first Black American artist to be requested to re-create the iconic image as well as the third artist to leave his impression on such pieces revered by the culture.
On August 1, 1981, MTV: Music Television aired for the first time. Hosted by John Lack, who immediately uttered the words “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.” MTV’s programming ultimately led to the 1984 debut of the Video Music Awards. where the inspired Moonman renamed Moon Person made its appearance. The idea of ‘claiming uncharted territory,’ by Manhattan Design, a small New York-based design company, created both the recognizable MTV logo and the moon-landing top-of-the-hour animation.
Wiley’s vine-covered Moon Person will be displayed as a life-sized version at NASA‘s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida.
This year Lady Gaga will return to perform at the 2021 MTV VMAs for the first time in seven years. Rounding out the all-star lineup was The Weeknd, J Balvin, Doja Cat, Roddy Ricch, CNCO, and Maluma. The event will be held on September 12, 2021, and broadcasted on cable.
View this post on Instagram