Hypothetical Value (2024)
Performance Intervention and Film Installation
Performance Intervention and Film Installation
Manifesting the incongruity between measurable value and hypothetical value that cannot be clearly quantified in a barter system, gift economy, or and auctions—whether in the realm of arts, poetic expression, or temporal experiences.
London Bridge
March 12, 2024
March 12, 2024
I arranged a film to play on the cash machine's screen, which is no longer in use. It depicted a narrative about the intangible relationships between values that cannot be quantified in monetary terms, such as those found in a barter economy. Prior to its commencement, I inserted the image into the channel, symbolizing the act of exchange portrayed within the film's narrative—specifically, the story of my exchanges involving abstract concepts.
The narrative unfolded with me initiating exchanges, beginning with acrylic paintings, then progressing to one-page poems, obtained from a poet situated by the Thames river who was willing to trade for my artwork. These poems were subsequently exchanged with a Thai grocery store, and the cycle continued.
The film reached its culmination with a scene depicting my rejection by a shopkeeper. This rejection served as a poignant reflection on the abstract nature of these exchanges—instances where the lack of a monetary system or perceived inequality in value rendered the transactions unacceptable. The value of certain items often defies conventional rules, being evaluated instead based on personal sentiment. In this particular store, my offering held no significance to the seller
Inspired by this experience, I decided to stage an auction in front of the cash machine where I was conducting my performance. Despite its lack of value to the shopkeeper, I believed the item might hold value for someone else or in a different context
