Interview with MATTHEW COOPER
“I have always found this process very interesting. Taking something that is often intangible and representing it in a visual way.”
In a previous “Swim” feature on Zoom Magazine, you told us about importance of artwork as following: “I like there to be a twist or a surprise - no matter how subtle (and even if no one else notices!)”. Could you give any example of favorite “twist” and “surprise” you've created?
The pattern that makes up the front cover of the first Woodbine album is a photograph of an old tea tray and the back cover is a tin of fungicidal foot powder!
The typography on "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand" was created using pegboard letters from a café's menu. Alex Kapranos had thought it might be a nice idea to use something like this instead of a standard typeface and I just happened to have a pegboard propped against the wall in my studio, when the band came in to discuss the artwork.
The right hand ascender in the N of Franz on the cover of "You Could Have It So Much Better" is longer than normal - because of the slant no one notice- it just looks right.
What is interesting about making artwork in general?
Most of the bands I have worked with have a strong idea of how they want their artwork to represent them and their music. My background in illustration is useful in that it has taught me to interpret, translate, and
realize thoughts, themes and ideas. I have always found this process very interesting. Taking something that is often intangible and representing it in a visual way.
This is a question about your childhood. What kind of kid were you?
I asked my father and sister this question! Apart from saying that I was tall and thin, they both said that I was always drawing and making my friends laugh with my cartoons.
What brought you to the world of design/illustration?
I always drew as a child - it was my favorite pastime. All my family were creative - and when I think about it now, our house was always full of interesting visual stimulus.
Is there any creative/artist/photographer that gave you a big influence on you through your life?
The illustrations of Arthur Rackham were my first big love as a boy... that is probably what lead me to illustration.
Later inspiration, and influence, would come from the likes of Cy Twombly, the collages of Kurt Schwitters, Robert Rauschenberg, Alexander Rodchenko, Joseph Beuys, Herbert Matter... these are the people I come back to.
