16 x 20 Photograph printed to canvas with wood frame.

This is a photograph of a 2018 50-bolivar note from Venezuela, featuring a portrait of Jose de Sucre, a revolutionary who fought alongside Simon de Bolivar to help win independence from Spain. It’s always interesting to me how the lives of heroic figures on currency are marred by the fact their portraits appear on fiat currency. Their lives may have represented freedom, but the currency represents enslavement. In 2018, the rate of inflation in Venezuela reached 80,000%, and, as in Weimar Germany, currency like this could be seen blowing in the streets or used as wallpaper, creating misery and economic despair.

I usually burn and photograph the currency in a controlled environment on a mounted device. This one was sacrificed inside of a wood burning stove. As the paper crumbled, the melting pieces just covered de Sucre’s eyes, and I thought that was appropriate, because he’d probably be ashamed of his connection to it. For more, please visit fiatfire.com

50% proceeds to ALS Network

This Lot Includes:

Physical Good:

• Dimensions: 16 x 20 (in)
• Weight: 2 lbs
• Materials: Photograph printed to canvas
• Item Type: Art Collectible

No Reserve

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