Money Map of Africa: inkjet print on enhanced paper from original collage

Money Map of Africa: inkjet print on enhanced paper from original collage

Justine Smith, 2007, London, paper, 1010x1190 mm, British Museum

The “Money Map of Africa” compounds many of Smith’s ideas relating to money. The images and cultural symbols on the banknotes are significant and can give an indication of the economy of a given country. First world countries may show inventors, great architects, defining achievements, artists and historical figures, whereas a poorer economy may show its natural assets such as local flora and fauna, agricultural and local industries – Madagascar for example shows boats and fishermen, and The Congo shows tribal costumes and artefacts. Religious symbols may feature such as saints, holy buildings, religious leaders, whilst spiritual and cultural alliances can be seen as groups of countries appear to merge due to the similarity of Islamic design on the banknotes. One can also see economic alliances such as the West and Central African states, which share common currencies between a group of nations. Similarly, one can also see traces of old empires - some country’s borders are naturally formed by rivers or mountains, but other country’s borders are man-made – to an extent divided by money. Some states are literally drawn with a ruler and pencil, evidence of it being divided up as a consequence of its colonial past. There are of course geological maps, but this map is a political map showing political boundaries of each state. Over time, this map will date as new alliances are formed, or wars annex one country onto another, or there is a regime change and a new currency is issued. All the notes on this map are current issue.

Justine Smith