Matt D McCarthy

The inspiration for this work came from re-reading Quentin Crisp’s autobiography ‘The Naked Civil Servant’, in which he states that an idealised ‘Great Dark Man’ does not exist. The wise, kind, brave and chivalrous ‘knight in shining armour’ is an unrealistic ideal of masculinity.The idea of knights and armour appealed to me on several levels. Firstly, the knight as an icon of masculine bravery, a heroic figure. Secondly, the idea of armour as a shell, a protective barrier to who we are, but also as an advertisement of personal status. Beneath any armour is a fallible, vulnerable person. Read the rest of this entry »

Detail – Inkjet printed book cover, grey flannel, leatherette and patinated upholstery tacks.

Knights Errant – Hysterical Romance series, two of six figures.’Narcissus’ adapted to standing posture. Both 160×60 cm.

Wadded textile, Canford card and wire on a wooden armature.

Knights Errant – Hysterical Romance series, one of six figures. 160×60 cm

Wadded textile, Canford card and wire on a wooden armature.

Knights Errant – Hysterical Romance series, one of six figures. 160×60 cm.
Wadded textile, Canford card and wire on a wooden armature. 

Knights Errant – Hysterical Romance series, one of six figures. 160×60 cm.
Wadded textile, Canford card and wire on a wooden armature.

 Detail showing ‘Michaelangelo’s David’ ink jet transfer and brocade trim.

‘Troubadour’ is a self portrait. The troubadour often sang of romantic love, and heroic deeds, ideals which appeal to my innate romanticism.I dressed him in a subdued jester’s motley as an allusion to my aptitude for ‘hiding’ behind humour. Because of this ability, people have often said to me “I wouldn’t have known that you suffered from depression!” Read the rest of this entry »

‘Knights Errant – Hysterical Romance series, one of six figures. 160×60 cm.
Tea dyed calico, wadded textile, Canford card and wire on a wooden armature.

Black voile over black polyester, gold satin, aged metal-leaf, inkjet print, lino printed ‘dark mirror’ and base fabric.