Faculty of Design

Material Art & Design

Tiange Xiang

Money: From Barter to Digital Currencies

The artwork explores the significance of money and encourages people to prioritize their inner enrichment over the excessive pursuit of wealth. It traces the historical evolution of currency from bartering to modern forms like digital currencies. The piece incorporates various materials representing different forms of currency, including digital codes of 0 and 1. The artwork is a visual journey that invites viewers to reflect on the meaning of wealth and encourages a more mindful approach to money, emphasizing the importance of spiritual prosperity.

“In this artwork, I explore the profound significance of money and urge people to cease their excessive pursuit of wealth while neglecting the enrichment of their inner world. Throughout history, the form and value of currency have been ascribed by humans. As time has passed, the form of money has constantly evolved—from bartering in primitive times to the exchange of universally valuable items like beautiful shells or feathers. By the Middle Ages, people traded gems and precious metals for goods. Modern society sees paper bills, coins, bank account digits, and cryptocurrencies as mediums for acquiring resources.My work incorporates shells, silver feathers, gems, silver ingots, coins, and digital currencies. I employ the binary digits 0 and 1 to represent the most contemporary form of "money." This can be interpreted as numbers in a bank account or as digital currencies. Binary code is a system of representing data using only two values—typically 0 and 1—which form the foundation of all digital communication and computing.This piece serves as a visual journey, tracing the evolution of currency and inviting viewers to reflect on the true meaning of wealth. Through this exploration, I hope to encourage a more mindful approach to our relationship with money and emphasize the importance of spiritual prosperity.”