Fiona Hall's contemporary work relates to the Renaissance concept of Mercantilism.These works were part of an art show titled 'Force Field' which can be viewed in one of the exhibition spaces on You-tube - Part Three: Fiona Hall: Force Field.
Mercantilism is an economic theory considered to be a form of economic nationalism that holds the prosperity of a nation. It is dependent upon its supply of capital and that the global volume of international trade is "unchangeable". Economic assets (or capital) are represented by bullion (gold, silver, and trade value) held by the state, which is best increased through a positive balance of trade with other nations (exports minus imports).
Mercantilism developed at a time when the European economy was in transition. Between the 1500s and the 1700s, many European states wanted to expand business at home, export more goods than they imported and increase foreign trade. Countries often used mercantilism to control and to protect their industries. For example, England wanted to protect the sale of woolens which was its main industry. As a result, in the 1400s, England barred all foreign wool and silk from entering the country. During the late 1500s, England used money and market restrictions to attract foreign craftsmen's to start new businesses. Throughout the rest of the world, mercantilism has been pursued, most successfully in Asia.
Leaf Litter, from 2000 was exhibited alongside Tender, from 2003-05. Both pieces deal with the conflicted role that money plays in contemporary and multicultural society and how it contrasts the socialized concept of money, with natural, organic items. As the images above show, respectively leaves and bird nests.
Looking at the pieces - Leaf Litter and Tender, they investigate the interrelationships between the natural world and the commercial world while money is the bottom line in our contemporary economy and overrides crucial environmental concerns, plants are often the raw material for generating income. (Money made from paper is also produced from plants).
Leaf Litter consists of a number of individual elements made of bank notes from different countries joined together to form panels. On the bank notes, Fiona Hall draws leaves that represent a native plant from the country of origin. These plants have become endangered as a result of economic pressures to grow commercial crops. And Tender is dozens of fragile birds' nests made from shredded United States dollar bills'. The leaves are transparent in places so that the person on the note underneath shows through. These multiple sheets are held together with paper tape on the back, which when hung on a wall allows the lower part to move.
Looking at the piece - Tender, as the saying goes, "money doesn't grow on trees" Fiona explains that there are some things that no amount of money can buy.
References:
http://dl.screenaustralia.gov.au/module/840/
http://www.google.co.nz/images?hl=en&gbv=2&q=fiona+hall+tender&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=FIDWS7yHG4KkswPEhZnwAQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CB0QsAQwAw
http://nga.gov.au/federation/Detail.cfm?WorkID=26201
refer to the Leaf Litter, i really understand the work relate to Mercantilism. Every country try to protect their industries and makes that the biological and environmental are affected. This vicious circle affects us humans the most. From this art, we can see people's view on money.I already with Fiona's view of "there are some things that no amount of money can buy".
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