Harald Smykla Face Value "In an era of virtual money, cash is an increasingly old-fashioned commodity. Street markets are one of the few places where cash is the only acceptable means of payment. Britain is one of the last Western European countries where banknotes are still adorned with human faces. When the Euro is introduced, we'll just pay with images of generic architecture. "From my stall I sold personalised banknotes. Shoppers had their portraits drawn onto these, as I subtly altered the printed images of Darwin, Fry and Elgar. Negotiations between customer and stallholder ensued about the appropriate retail price of these portraits: What constitutes the 'face value' of a re-faced banknote? My pricing strategies adapted to the intentions and desires of my customers. Will the customer be willing to circulate it as legal tender to pay for goods from the market ( in which case I sold them the note at face value), or hold on to it as an art object and thus a commodity with added value (in which case I added 50% of the face value)? "The act of disseminating local faces via national cash circulation proved to appeal in particular to members of the local Afro-Caribbean community, intrigued by the prospect of seeing black faces on English banknotes. "Some questioned the legality of re-facing money. Beyond any presumptions of a legal or moral nature, I simply provide an artistic service that may or may not be considered disrespectful of money, but forms the basis for exchange of time, thoughts and actions". |
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