European Central Bank rules on work of art
Artist Paavo Räbinä is not allowed to print realistic-looking euro bank
notes for his art installation
Paavo Räbinä
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A decision by the European Central Bank (ECB) has forced artist Paavo Räbinä to rethink his art installation. Räbinä's original idea was to incorporate in his work of art realistic-looking copies of euro banknotes.
As Räbinä wanted to avoid any trouble, he asked for permission to print copies of banknotes. "The police directed me to the Bank of Finland, who in turn passed the matter to the European Central Bank for advice", the artist explains. An ECB lawyer later contacted Räbinä via email.
ECB, who has the copyright of euro bills, rejected the artist's request.
Only copies either larger or smaller by a quarter than the original bill would be acceptable. Two-sided copies would have to be either double or half in size compared with the original.
Thanks to the ECB, from Thursday onwards Räbinä's Pääoma (Capital) installation includes no less than 2,000 real banknotes!
"Real money gives the artwork a whole new dimension."
With his exhibition in Helsinki's Galleria Forsblom, Räbinä seeks to question the power of money in society. The Pääoma installation consists of a massive metal-framed glass box in which 2,000 genuine banknotes fly back and forth, circulated by 20 fans.
Räbinä feels 200,000 notes would have looked even better, but with a mortgage to pay and everything, he had to settle for just 2,000.
The ECB's decision significantly raised the value of Räbinä's work of art. "If some fool wants to buy it, it will be sold with the real money inside. And that, of course, is reflected in the price", Räbinä points out.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 9.8.2005 - TODAY |
 European Central Bank rules on work of art
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