Granite Etching – Mullican – Untitled (Gail Stichler)

• This is a black etched granite paver set into the floor that records a Darwinian style of an evolutionary chart from protozoa at the bottom to familiar animals at the top.  This is one of four works by Matt Mullican commissioned by the SBMA Women’s Board in 1992.
• The artist’s intentions include creating a symbolic visual language that sums up humankind’s understanding of the physical and metaphysical universe.  He is looking at the past, present and future.  In this piece he used two ancient forms of art:  etching and rubbing.
• Etching on granite:  Granite is an igneous rock.   The Latin for granite means a course grained structure.  It is most often massive, hard and tough.  It has been used throughout history with early examples of its use in 26^th century ancient Egypt.  The top flat surface is polished; it is then carved into the surface from which the design is seen.  It requires great skill to carve by hand, which is how it was done until the 18^th century.  In the early 19^th century, steam power tools were invented.  Today, granite is carved by computer controlled rotary bits, or sandblasted over stencils.  Most recently laser technology has been used.
• Rubbing is also an ancient art form.  The earliest known rubbings are of Buddhist texts from 8^th century China.  The process is to lay paper on top of the etching and rub a pencil, charcoal stick or other form of color over the paper.  The color picks up the shapes that remain on the surface of the granite.  This is an early form of printing and a way of disseminating information.
• Mullican referenced an 18^th century French encyclopedia by Denis Diderot, which was the 1^st attempt to collect all information that had ever existed in sciences and humanities.  Diderot and the illustrators had never seen many of the animals first hand.  They drew from descriptions given to them.  Look at the camel and giraffe.  They are not accurate depictions.
• Mullican has created a piece that intentionally references ancient and modern ideas.  His focus is on how humankind uses symbols to make sense of our world.   The next piece we will see also combines the idea of ancient civilizations with modern narratives.  Both of these artists help us connect our past with modern day world.