Chinese Money Worth Weight in Eggs
In the years between the end of World War II and Mao’s declaration of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, it is said that China’s money was so worthless a single egg cost ¥10,000.
Perhaps one artist in Guangzhou, southern China, had that fact in mind when this sculpture was conceived. Except they got it backwards – it’s a case of a thousand eggs being needed for a single banknote.
The work was based on the 50 yuan note designed in 1980, below.
The exhibition is one of dozens held annually at the Guangdong Museum Of Art, a state of the art facility for modern and contemporary art.
By the way, if you’re wondering how such a carefully constructed edifice of extremely perishable goods does not eventually just tumble into pieces, then here’s the catch: it’s actually made of egg-shaped stones. Now there’s an artist, you might say, that knows how to avoid stinking up the gallery with their work.
By lehaneb on 20-11-2009
