The Ecstasy Collection

Dollar, Euro, X, Yen

Prohibition creates contraband, which in turn creates an illicit trade where the unscrupulous thrive. In this piece, the artist seeks to represent the harm that disorganised governments and organised crime are responsible for and the innocent lives that pay for distorted versions of the ‘morality’ they each employ. 

At first, everything is bling, cash and gold in a big SEXY statement that is physically separated from the rest. However, everything is merely gilded and no one is truly happy. The act of gold plating currency actually destroys its numismatic value. What is the value of a drug that can’t be imbibed? From the outside it seems so appealing when the ones looking in appear to have nothing – whatever it is, it’s not $€X¥.

Background:

The piece is a collaboration with British contemporary artist Hayden Kays. Kays drew 1,529 of his trademark skulls which were etched onto the gold plated back panel. The work has been exhibited freestanding on a plinth, held with an invisible frame, but it can also be adapted to be wall hung