Money and Art
Final project
Format: art work
My art work is quick painting and the object is HKD $1000 and HKD $500. My project
is to challenge myself that how many pieces of $1000 and $500 I can draw in 30
minutes.
Motivation:
When I finished the first 3 weeks lessons of this GE course, the topic about the
feature of money and art wok caught my eyes. The art work “The Great Japanese
Zero-Yen Note” (1963) presents the contradiction I am concerning. An authorized
bank note is a guarantee to pay the bearer on demand, which means the holders are
promised to be paid with the equal value, such as US dollar or gold. As a result, the
face value of Zero-Yen is zero, however, the estimate value in 2006 was 200,000 to
300,000 Yen. So how should the cashier count when I pay the lunch with a zero-yen
note? To me, it is still a contradiction. This project is to imitate the art “Zero-Yen” and
demonstrate the value a person can produce in half an hour.
Objective:
To present the contradiction between money and art, especially the value.
To present the symbolic structure of money and art.
To present the relationship between money and labor.
Material:
Paper, pencil, HKD $20, HKD $500, HKD $1000
Reference:
The first try of my art work:
My final art work:
Jimmy Ng Chun Kit
The HKD $500 and $1000 in 7minutes (2013)
Estimate: $0
Content:
I spent 30 minutes and successfully drew 4 pieces of HKD $500 and 3 pieces of HKD
$1000. In fact, it is an art work and estimated to worth $0. However, what would
happen with the value if the “$5000” got a valid signature of HSBC executive director
and then be authorized by Hong Kong Government? It may not be still an art work
(or is not only an art work), it will get a face value of $500 and $1000, and HSBC has
to pay the bearer on demand as it promised. In addition, what would happen if
someone is willing to pay 1 million for my art work after they are authorized? This art
work means that money represent value but the paper or coins are not really worth
as much as the money’s value. As a symbolic structure, money can gets its value
because the users trust and agree it. But, do not forget it is just a paper. We work for
it, fight for it, but it is originally worthless. And now, the whole world is still relying on
it. How mad it is?
Moreover, the reason I design to spend just 30 minutes to deal with my work is to
further emphasis the relationship between money and the labor. To lobar, money is
what they will gain in factor market when they provide manpower. In Hong Kong, the
lowest wage policy promise that the hirers have to pay their workers for HKD $33 per
hour at least. Whether I work for an hour, I still cannot gain a whole $100 bank note.
However, I spent 30 minutes and create “$5000”. Perhaps, the “$5000” may not
worth $5000, the art work shows that the value exchange between manpower and
money is mostly based on how people qualify.