Christopher McNulty

Stain

2009, automotive exhaust on paper, dimensions variable

Stain gives tangible, visual form to commonplace pollution caused by driving a gas-powered vehicle. In the artist’s words, “This project was created using a steel device that attached to my car’s tailpipe and filtered my automotive exhaust. Over a year’s time, I placed a 6” by 6” piece of paper in the device each day that I drove my car to create a drawing. The resulting series of over 140 works explores the tension that exists between the conflicting desires both to make a mark on the world and to leave no trace.”