DEFACED! - exhibition at The Fitzwilliam Museum

Defaced! Money, Conflict, Protest  book available on amazon

An exhibition that shows the history of spreading protest through currency. The thing that hit me the most is how well this exhibition pulled together over 250 years of, as it says in the book, 'overlooked objects' that convey a rebellious and powerful message. It reminds us of our struggle with money, a pain that is ever relevant in today's economic environment.

     A woven path takes you through a mix of modern artists such as Bansky, David Buonaguidi (TRASH), Luis Ortega, right back to the first world war and onto the fight for Irish independence (NO ENGLISH RULE). Coins are slashed, stamped with words and money is adorned with artwork, reflecting the anger of the time and the want for change.

Luis Ortega's eye catching use of the devalued Venezuelan currency to construct a chicken, shows how something of little worth can be reused to create a valuable collector's item.

There are so many powerful pieces, but If I were to choose one piece that had the most impact on me, despite its simplicity, it would be the coin that surfaced in the 1970s stamped with 'VOTE FOR WOMEN'. Probably dating back, they think to and perhaps worn by one of the suffragette women at a rally, this item is part of what was to change the future for women.

I am hoping the exhibition will reappear at a later date. As the talk of disbanding money floats in the air it will perhaps become one of the few non-digital ways in which creatives have relayed their frustration with humanity.