Insertions into Ideological Circuits 2: Banknote Project 1970

Curator: At first glance, it's just a ten cruzeiro banknote, but the defacement creates a powerful, almost visceral reaction, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. Cildo Meireles's "Insertions into Ideological Circuits 2: Banknote Project" transforms something ubiquitous into a vehicle for dissent. See how the word "Diretas" is stamped so boldly? Curator: The word "Diretas," meaning "Direct [elections]," becomes a potent symbol, turning currency into a subversive message during Brazil’s military dictatorship. Editor: It's a smart hijacking of a system, literally writing resistance onto the established order. Makes you wonder what other hidden messages are circulating right under our noses, doesn't it? Curator: It’s a reminder of how objects can become charged with meaning, reflecting the desires and struggles of a time, of a people, long after the moment has passed. Editor: It makes you realize how much history a humble little banknote can carry.