Akasegawa Genpei, One-Thousand-Yen Note Trial Impound Object: Mask (1963) and “Greater Japan Zero-Yen Notes” and Bottled Money from Exchange (1967)
Unlike the Todd Norsten piece, this work has a message; a point. It tells the story of his value of money. Originally, he printed pretend money and handed it out as invitations and used it as packaging paper. It was as valuable to him as any other paper. Unfortunately, his government did not think his irony was so funny. They charged and convicted him of fraud.
The trial brought such attention to his ideas that this kind of art became recognized and legitimized in Japan. After the fiasco, he went on to make these pieces. "Zero-Yen Notes." This is an even bolder way to express his feelings about money.
LIKE!
ReplyDelete