x-rays | Mr X Stitch

Matthew Cox is an artist from Philadelphia who works in a range of media, and is gaining attention for his embroidered x-rays. "About ten years ago I began to respond to x-rays and Medieval tapestry as objects of beauty at about the same time. Because I had been thinking about redefinition of materials that have an expected purpose for some time it seemed natural to lay these two items over one another. "The x-ray decides the outcome. Often x-rays have areas that are crisper, lighter or just more interesting than another area so I choose to leave that area exposed and improve the other space with embroidery. And, yes, there is a clear idea of the final design from the beginning. "Until this past year the embroidery was about decorative embellishment of a material that has a somewhat dark presence. But in May I began to use iconic imagery, characters and symbols and the Heartthrobs and Avatars were born. This gives me an opportunity to not only redefine materials but also imagery that comes loaded with preconceptions. Also, prior to this group I had worked within the confines of the rectangle but these new pieces extend the body part outside of the box and extends the possibilities for imagination." I think Matthew's work is great. It's colourful and playful - there is no guessing who the x-rays will belong to and Matthew surprises us with his choices. The use of satin stitch adds texture to the pieces and it's great to look through his site and see how this concept has evolved. Great stuff! ----- The Cutting (& Stitching) Edge is brought to you in association with PUSH: Stitchery, the contemporary embroidered art book curated by Jamie Chalmers. Featuring 30 textile-based artists from around the world, it's a must have for needlework fans.