Contemplation of Money


Contemplation of Money is an conceptual project by the artist Alexey Parygin, realized in the second half of the 1990s, the main semantic element of which were banknotes. The basis is a group of art objects created using the coins and bills of the Bank of Russia, which were in circulation at the time.

History

The specific mass of money was steadily increasing and depreciating. Square, circle, and triangle, the simple geometric shapes chosen as the matrix for mounting the collages, were programmatically predictable and non-alternative, like ideal meditative figures. The objects were conceived as self-sufficient parts of modular structures with the possibility of variable combination on display, depending on the specific exposition task.
The association with the icon of the Russian avant-garde—Kazimir Malevich's triptych became a conscious component of the project. It is the same with the form of Byzantine art and old Russian icons.
In this case, the plastic solution of the series of artworks is not perceived as a literal quotation or borrowing.
Contemplation of Money is an ironic homage to the Black Square, which became one of the turning points in the 20th century art history and almost immediately turned into a speculative idea and manifesto on itself. A clear signpost to indicate the conceptual vector of the project more accurately.
In modern society, Money has long taken the place of God, the sheer speculative idea of its presence giving love and support and faith in eternal life. By means of art, the Contemplation of Money and Art is a Business projects portrayed money as a New Divine Essence.
In 2006, psychologist Kathleen Vohs conducted a series of experiments on the effects of money on human consciousness. It has been proven that the contemplation of money helps to increase confidence in one's rightness and gives optimism.
Contemplation of Money is the artist's first philosophical manifesto, which was developed in subsequent artworks: Art is a Business, Art in the Forest, Posturbanism Art Project, City as an Artist's Subjectivity.

Major work

Art Objects

Contemplation of money.Sign—Square I.Sign—Square II.Sign—Cross.Sign—Circle.Sign—Triangle.Sign—Big Square.Sign—Large Circle.Sign—Big Triangle.Sign—Blue Square.Sign—White Cross.Sign—Yellow Triangle.Sign—Green Circle.Pyramid XO.

Artist's book

  • Parygin A. Contemplation of Money. St. Petersburg, 1999. 21 pp.
  • Parygin A. Contemplation of Money. St. Petersburg, 1997.

Exhibitions

The Artist's Book in Russia and the UK. Tsaritsyno Palace. Moscow. March 13—May 18, 2014; Radishchev Art Museum. August 7—September 30, 2014.XXVII International Congress of Ex-Libris. Central Exhibition Hall Manege. St. Petersburg. August 22–25, 1998.2nd International Festival of Experimental Arts and Performance. Central Exhibition Hall Manege. St. Petersburg. August 1–11, 1998.Petersburg 97. Central Exhibition Hall Manege. St. Petersburg. January 9—31, 1998.

Articles

Parygin A. B. Деньги как искусство // Economics vs Art: 10th Annual International Conference of the Center for the Study of Economic Culture of St Petersburg State University. St. Petersburg: Asterion, 2022. 92 pp. P. 48–49. Parygin A. B. . St. Petersburg art notebooks, # 68, St. Petersburg: AIS, 2022. P. 260–265. Parygin A. B. . St. Petersburg art notebooks, # 68, St. Petersburg: AIS, 2022. P. 248–254. Grigoryants E. I. «Книга художника»: традиции и новации // «Искусство печатной графики: история и современность». В сб. н. статей по материалам научной конференции Четвертые казанские искусствоведческие чтения. November 19–20, 2015. Kazan: The State Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Tatarstan, 2015. P. 83–86, ill. Blagodatov N. Art is a search, search is an art // Neva, No. 2, 2002. P. 253–255.

Exhibition catalogues