#HTE

Playfully Embroidered X-Ray Film by Matthew Cox

“Daisy Bracelet” All images provided by Matthew Cox.

Adding a touch of softness to stark images of knees, skulls, and chests, Matthew Cox uses bright thread to embroider on X-ray film. His additions add a playful fiction to the cold reality of the transparent film, giving body parts the faces of Greek gods and limbs of anger-prone superheroes. Each stitch on the medical photograph acts as a line for Cox, a labored drawing produced from vibrant thread.

The Philadelphia-based artist enjoys the contrast of his two chosen materials, redefining each of their roles through their unique combination. “By joining the cold, blue, medically-technical plastic of the X-ray with the colorful, decorative and tactile embroidery thread, each is removed from its original intention and creates a new entity,” said Cox. “Handling these media also gives me an opportunity to comment on the ever-increasing presence of photography in contemporary art by introducing labor over the quick, slickness of film.”

Cox’s will show a selection of his embroidered works this summer at Sweden’s Fiberspace. You can see more of his works on his Instagram here. (via Booooooom)

“Lotus With Butterfly Necklace”

“Wading Knees”

“Avatar #7, Zeus/Hulk”

“Medusa Profile”

“Avatar #2, Minotaur”

“Knee and Daisies”

“Waterproof Watches”

“Lashes and Earrings”