Money Dress, Ashmolean Museum
2024
Money Dress is made from used paper currency from all over the world, stitched together to form a dress. 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 for the whole dress to be made from currency featuring female figureheads, but those are still prohibitively rare. Made in honour of Mary Kingsley and her work, the piece is based on the idea that female territory and power are enabled by economic independence.
The style of dress was worn in the 1890’s by Female Explorers, who were overlooked in history. Made in honour of Mary Henrietta Kingsley, a female explorer featured in the book, Female Explorers that Changed the World. Mary 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 an Artist in Residence at the Royal Geographic Society (RGS) in 2010, when I was able to research their extensive collections.
I began working with money as a sculptural material after completing residencies 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 exhibition 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!
New Year, New Newsletter, January 2025
Exhibitions:
Money Talks: Art Society & Power, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, UK, 9th 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
The Creative Compass Royal Geographical Society with INIVA London 2010
Publications:
Money Talks: Art Society & Power Ashmolean publications -Book/Catalogue 2024
ISBN: 978-1-910807-62-0
Money Talks: Art Society and Power - a vivid, revelatory look at two sides of the same coin, The Observer review by Laura Cummings, 18th August 2024
Dear Money - how it is made to speak around the globe, Handelsblatt - German daily newspaper by Stephanie Dieckvoss, 21st Sept 2024
Women, Power and the Art of Money - Ashmolean Museum by Shailen Bhandare 2024
Money Talks: art society & power-a 'fascinating' show, The Week by Irenie Forshaw 16 Aug
Money Is Art in an Exhibition at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, Smithsonian Magazine by Julia Binswanger 5th Sept 2024
Sneak Peek: New Ashmolean Exhibition, Money Talks - Featuring Banksy, Klimt, Rembrandt, Grayson Perry & Elizabeth II, by Ox In A Box 5th Aug 2024
Talking money moves to Oxford, battered-suitcase, Heritage News 31st May 2024
The Queen of Trade Fairs Serves the Change in Taste, Handesplatt Kuntsmark Review at TEFAF Art Fair 2020
The First Cut Manchester Art Gallery & Cornerhouse Publications 2013
The Creative Compass, Royal Geographic Society & INIVA, Colonial Dress &
Creative Compass 2010.
Collections:
Money Dress was acquired by the Galila's P.O.C. Brussels, Belgium collection (2025)
