Mercantilism was quite dominant through the late Renaissance period and early modern period. Was considered the economic ideology for two and a half centuries.
Fiona Halls work 'Tender' has been produced on shredded American one-dollar bills in the shapes of bird nests.. This is highly illegal and would be confiscated if it was in the US. Each note has a serial number which has been written on the glass wall as proof of which notes are actually included in the work.
The American currency is highly desired in Third World countries. This where where the bird nest structure relates to these people being like scavengers (like a bird) to getting hold of the American currency.
How this relates to mercantilism is through the connection of economy.
The work 'Leaf Litter' relates to the importance of money and how most of us wouldn't get by without it. It is "the ultimate symbol of desire" - Fiona Hall. The work also relates to 'money doesn't grow on trees' but in this case, it kind of does. It goes back to the hugh growth of European wealth and power, and the battles that people and plants have all been through.
What you have said about Fiona Halls work 'Tender' is correct i believe, as the people of the third world country are, in some way, scavengers for american currency, this explains the reason why these american bills are formed in the shape of birds nests.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you have to say. Fiona Hall's work is very democratic and i agree very much with what you have said about the relationship with the bird nest structure and the people in Third World countries acting like scavengers as this is very true and with the dollar bills being used to make the birds nests' it is relevant to the Third World countries trying to get hold of the American currency. Something i found when i was looking at the piece - Tender, there was a saying written, "money doesn't grow on trees" Fiona explained that there are some things that no amount of money can buy which i thought was very true. I also agree with the point you made about the battles that people and plants (environmental) have all been through and all of these points relate very strongly to mercantilism.
ReplyDeleteThe idea you have of Fiona Hall's work is interesting. I agree on the subject that third world countries value American Dollars and act like scavengers to get their hands on the money. I have also learnt from you post that she also added the serial numbers of the bills on the glass to verify the authenticity of the money. I liked how you related trees and people together through this artwork and beleive the idea that 'money doesn't grow on trees' is correct also.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you ideas behind the work "tender" because of how you relate to the 3rd world countries and how they have a high demand for the american dollar bill. This can relate to the mercantilisim concept because of the nests because it is like gathering pescious goods to keep there community structed and held together (like a nest)
ReplyDeleteFor the leaf litter i also agree, however i think the emphasis is the idea of the leaf as part of a native plant which has been endangerd because of economic pressure whcich has more relation to mercantilisim.