Money Dress
2022
Money Dress is based on the style of dresses worn in the 1890’s by Female Explorers, who were overlooked in history. This piece was made in honour of Mary Henrietta Kingsley, a female explorer featured in the book, Female Explorers that Changed the World. She fell into a crevice in the French Congo and was saved by her crinoline when it caught on a tree branch. Money Dress was made as a result of being Atist in Residence at the Royal Geographic Society (RGS) 2010, when I was able to research their extensive collections. It is made with used paper currency from all over the world: the collars, cuffs and belt are crafted from money featuring female figureheads, and the rest of the dress is made from money with male figureheads on, which are turned inwards so you can only see their backs. The original intention was that the whole dress would be made from currency featuring female figureheads but they are still prohibitively rare. As well as being made in honour of Mary Kingsley and her work the piece is based on the idea of female territory and power being enabled by economic independence.
I began working with money as a sculptural material after completing residenies in China and Taiwan, where I observed the tradition of burning “spirit money" in veneration of deceased relatives, and so that they have sufficient means in the afterlife. Collecting beautiful old paper currency combined with the money stories I heard led me to make work with upcycled paper currency. Initially I made the quilt, A Chinese Dream for the exhibion Quilts 1700-2010 at the V&A and then a whole body of work ensued, crafted from paper currency and coins. For a time I was surrounded by disused paper currency, yet I possessed very little of the usable stuff myself and I hoped that if I made work with this money it might bring me luck in the form of funds!
Exhinbtions:
Money Talks: Art Society & Power Ashmolean Museum, Oxford UK 10th Aug 24-5th Jan 2025.
Hidden Histories, Untold Stories Warrington Museum & Art Gallery 2020/21
TEFAF Art Fair with Patrick Heide Contemporary Art, Maastricht, NL 2020
The First Cut Manchester Art Gallery & Platt Hall 2013
Creative Compass Royal Geographic Society & INIVA London 2010
Publications:
Money Talks: Art Society & Power Ashmolean Museum Book Ashmolean publications -Book/Catalogue
Talking money moves to Oxford battered-suitcase, Heritage News 31st May 2024
Susan Stockwell: Hidden Histories Untold Stories Messy Lines, Feb 28th 2021, Julia Johnson
The Queen of Trade Fairs Serves the Change in Taste Handesplatt Kuntsmark Review at TEFAF Art Fair
The First Cut Manchester Art Gallery & Cornerhouse Publications 2013
Creative Compass Royal Geographic Society & INIVA, Colonial Dress &
Creative Compass 2010
