"Give me the money" was commissioned in 2006 by Kath Woods at the Firstsite gallery Colchester, Essex. The original commission was to make a donations box for the gallery but I approached the project the same as I would any other artistic commission. It seemed the perfect vehicle to explore notions of art and commerce, a subject that had been an ongoing theme in my work. (See the other projects 'Offer Must End Soon', 'Cheap Cheap' and 'A Portrait of Casper DeBoer').
This work was on long term loan from Firstsite to Artsadmin on display at Toynbee hall, Whitechapel, London. Currently back in the Minories gallery also in Colchester.
This work was on long term loan from Firstsite to Artsadmin on display at Toynbee hall, Whitechapel, London. Currently back in the Minories gallery also in Colchester.
Photo: Doug Atfield
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Photo: Doug Atfield
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"Give me the money" is constructed from a tall thin found box that is divided into three sections. In the middle compartment there is a caged area from which a shelf protrudes. On the shelf is gun made partly from a paint brush. The middle section is uncleaned and grimy. There is a miniature painting on an easel, brushes and a saw from a dolls house tool kit. In one corner stands a 1970’s, vintage, talking `Action man'. Although there is a speaker in its chest it is not the original. The sound comes from a cassette tape player located elsewhere in the box.The action man wears paint spattered jeans and no shirt.
This compartment is reminiscent of the stereotypical image of a starving artist's garret. It also has echoes of a bank counter or prison cell.
This compartment is reminiscent of the stereotypical image of a starving artist's garret. It also has echoes of a bank counter or prison cell.
The paintbrush gun switch. the action man figure is holding an actual gun but it has been decomissioned. Photo: Doug Atfield
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The coin slot. Photo: Doug Atfield
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When the trigger on the paint brush gun is pulled a light comes on and a recording of my voice comes out of the Action Man. Angrily it shouts.... "Give me the money"
Photo: Doug Atfield
Coins can be inserted in a slot on the side of the box. This puts them into the first compartment- A painted landscape. To begin with they roll down a paint brush handle that has a deep groove cut into it. Then, if they follow the intended route, they pass through the construction as follows.
From the first paintbrush the coin should drop onto a second, then a third and switch back on itself to roll into the back of a toy security van. There is a hole in the bottom of the van and another cut through the floor of this compartment. The coins drop through into the next compartment- The starving artist's garret.
From the first paintbrush the coin should drop onto a second, then a third and switch back on itself to roll into the back of a toy security van. There is a hole in the bottom of the van and another cut through the floor of this compartment. The coins drop through into the next compartment- The starving artist's garret.
The coins drop into and through the purse. Photo: Doug Atfield
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Photo: Jason Lee
The speaker is in action mans chest (its an original talking Action Man) the Photo: Jason Lee
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As the coins drop through the floor above they fall into an open purse. This also has a hole cut through it and the coin drops through the floor into the third compartment.
Photo: Doug Atfield
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My jeans, my pocket. Photo: Doug Atfield
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When the coin has gone through the purse it falls into an empty plastic turpentine bottle. This has been cut and shaped so that the coins are directed onto another paint brush with a groove cut in it.
The stereotype of a starving artist living in a garret is not a million miles away from my actual existence. In this compartment is also a pair of old, paint spattered jeans that used to belong to me.
As the coin rolls along the paint brush it completes an electrical circuit which triggers another tape player. On the floor of this compartment is another toy security van with a speaker in it. Another recording of my voice says politely...."this vehicle is reversing".
If the coin rolls the entire intended length of the route, it rolls to the end of the paintbrush and falls off into 'MY' pocket.
The stereotype of a starving artist living in a garret is not a million miles away from my actual existence. In this compartment is also a pair of old, paint spattered jeans that used to belong to me.
As the coin rolls along the paint brush it completes an electrical circuit which triggers another tape player. On the floor of this compartment is another toy security van with a speaker in it. Another recording of my voice says politely...."this vehicle is reversing".
If the coin rolls the entire intended length of the route, it rolls to the end of the paintbrush and falls off into 'MY' pocket.