Serendip is an independent site partnering with faculty at multiple colleges and universities around the world. Happy exploring!

Artist Profile: Matt Neff

The Brain Constructing the World
A collaboration between Serendip and Painted Bride Art Center,
associated with the Synesthesia exhibit, April 3rd - May 16th 2009

 

Matt Neff

"Eidophusicon"


click to enlarge


Artist profile

Matthew Neff is a mixed media artist living and working in Philadelphia. He currently teaches printmaking, manages the print shop and the Common Press at the University of Pennsylvania. Matthew received his M.F.A. in 2005 from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.F.A. from Indiana University in 2002, and a B.A. in Art History from Indiana University in 2002.

 

Artist's statement

The eighteenth-century Eidophusicon has been variously described as a mechanical theater, a miniature stage, a diorama, a panorama, or a physiorama. Featuring lighting, mechanical motion, sound effects, architectural simulation, dramatic special effects and something akin to a storyline, the Eidophusicon would probably be described today as 'multimedia' or ‘virtual[real]ity.

This body of work was made from plexi-glass letters etched, cut, mounted, and printed on a Vandercook No. 4 proof press. Layering the etched letters in different ways, allowing them to vibrate and moir é made for an exciting variable edition.

This series is based on an original edition of 100 made for the Center for Book Arts in NY as part of a folio project touring the country featuring new trends in letterpress printing around the country. Eidophusicon was originally conceived, designed, and printed by Matt Neff and Christopher Van Auken. The title of the edition originates from an 18th century spectacle of moving image made by Philip James de Loutherbourg.

 

Web links

mattneffonline.com

 

Back to exhibit home page

Comments

Michelle Brown's picture

Wow!

This piece is amazing - I would love to see it in real life. I can tell my brain is trying to order the letters, but can't quite get there!

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.
10 + 8 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.