Matthew Riddle: Allegory of Burning Light

My collection is about feeling. It’s about wonder and awe and seeing something so layered that it’s hard to look away, and having so much to say about something that you’re left speechless. Its biggest inspiration arose from my research into design practices from the late 1800s and early 1900s, and how every aspect of a design was skillfully placed with great intention. The title, “Allegory of Burning Light,” stems from old allegorical artwork, where a complex idea or story is represented visually with abundant symbolism, almost pseudo-surrealism. I found that I finally started to settle into my personal style when I devoted less time to thinking about what a work was about and more to feeling it. Many of my techniques are readapted from what they are intentionally seen for, potentially shifting the viewer’s narrative of what they entail. For example, embroidery styles are used for block printing, and advertisements are re-imagined as intricate ornamentation. Up to now, I have been carefully refining this process and I am excited to finally share it.