Celestial Bodies

Celestial Bodies is a series of twelve Images. They represent planets and bodies in our solar system, based on their traditional mythological characters. Hard light and clear structures are used to mimic an outer-space athmosphere. Parts of the human body are used to contrast these structures with soft and smooth lines. Thus, the gods of the past meet our existence in the here and now.

The sequence follwos the order in our solar system, starting at the center. Using hair as a dominant feature in the first and last picture builds a bracket around the sequence. The accompanying text connects the pictures with their corresponding mythological archetypes.

The project is my first attempt on a consistent series. In addition to the large format fine art prints, I published a calendar, info material and posters for the exhibitions. The pictures were printed with deep black ink on matte paper and framed with antireflective glass. This enhances the outer-space effect.

There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. (1 Cor 15, 40–41)

Sun


Sheding light and life, the sun moves across the sky. In the sequence of day and night the sun takes the active role, contrasting the moon.

Mercure


He is the messenger of the gods, always on the move. God of thieves and merchants, often on the run. Quick and eloquent, hard to nail down.

Venus

Godess of love, lust and feelings. Decisions are made intuitive, with strong feelings. Her passion and devotion are endless.

Earth


She is simply fertility. Receiving and giving birth. She’s our home and shelter, she carries, protects and feeds us.

Moon

The continuous change of the shape  is a symbol of growth and passing. It is also a representation of the reflecting principle, acting as a counterpart to the sun.

Mars

He stands for war and agression, the battle of the sexes. Courage, vigor and his strong will are drivers for honesty without compromise.

Jupiter

The master of thunder and lightning, disempowering his own father. He enjoys his excessive lifestyle, spreading his offspring in uncountable numbers.

Saturn

Limitation, structure, order, at any cost. Tied within his rings, he kills his father for a higher cause. As Janus he is the border between the worlds, between yesterday and tomorrow.

Uranus


He is the creator of bizarre life and strange creatuers. He was castrated by his son Zeus. Even when dying, he created the Giants, Furies and from the foam dropping from his wound, Aphrodite arises.

Neptun


He lives in the deep of the ocean. Blurred and watery, he refrains from our view. His realm is impenetrable and nearly infinite.

Pluto

As Hades, he is the keeper of the underworld. Reduction and decomposition lead to a new beginning.

Comet


Mysterious and hard to predict, it crosses the path of the planets. A wanderer and temporral visitor. A sign and omen of events to come.