The London obelisk c. 1881

This is a photograph of the London Obelisk, also known as Cleopatra's Needle. An obelisk is made from a single piece of stone, typically granite, quarried and carved with incredible precision. The immense scale of these monuments speaks to ancient engineering skills, requiring complex systems of labor management and organization. The carving and transport of such a massive object would have been an enormous undertaking, reflecting the power and resources of the ruling class. Consider the labor required to move the obelisk from Egypt to London. The effort put into creating and relocating this object underscores its symbolic importance, a way of imposing ancient power onto the modern landscape. Thinking about materials, making, and context allows us to see how it challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.