Drieluik van perspex met Euro-geld 2002

This triptych made of perspex containing Euro currency was created by De Nederlandsche Bank. This piece begs us to consider not only the Euro’s symbolic value, but the values it embodies. The very structure of this piece—a triptych, traditionally used for religious iconography—lends a sense of reverence to currency. But what does it mean to sanctify money in this way? Does it reinforce the systems of power and inequality that money often represents? Or does it serve as a commentary on the way societies imbue currency with meaning and worth? This work, in its own way, speaks to how something as functional as currency can become a potent symbol of identity, and belonging within a larger economic and political framework. The piece prompts us to consider our relationship with the Euro, both as a tool for everyday transactions and as a marker of our place in the world.