Photographer reveals his vision of the universe

Blood, sweat and tears were shed by everyone who produced work for this year’s Degree Show, but nobody put them in quite as literally as Photography student Matthew Wilcox.

For his project ‘The Cosmic Heimat’, Matthew used his own bodily fluids to create 10 stunning photographic prints of the solar system.

He used mucus from his nose to make Pluto, tears for Neptune, sweat for Uranus, urine for Saturn, blood for Jupiter, faeces for Mars, sperm for Earth, bile for Venus and saliva for Mercury.

Matthew used all of these substances to create the Sun and every bodily fluid was chosen for a reason – linking them to each planet’s unique feature.

Unsurprisingly, Matthew’s photographs are causing universal curiosity.

“At first, people are visually amazed by how they look,” explained Matthew, who is better known by his nickname ‘Giant’.

“But then the curiosity sparks questions and people will often laugh and giggle when I reveal how I made them.

“I’m enjoying the reaction though – I like how they are drawn in by the beauty and then repulsed!”

After the Degree Show, Matthew’s prints move to London to be exhibited at The Association of Photographers’ gallery in Shoreditch until 3rd July.

“If one person leaves my work with a new perspective and a different appreciation, then I have succeeded,” he added.

‘The Cosmic Heimat’ will be on display to the public, along with more amazing work from BA(Hons) Photography students, from Saturday 12th until Saturday 19th June at Staffordshire University’s College Road campus in Stoke.

For more information about Matthew and his work, please visit his website thisisgiant.com.