Defaced! Money, Conflict, Protest - Curator's Lunchtime Talk

Interesting online lecture from the Fitzwilliam Museum describing and explaining their current exhibition.

Richard Kelleher, the curator of the show, lead us through the main themes and objects in this show about how defacing money, which is often a symbol of authority, has been a symbol of protest over the years. It also looks at emergency money such as notes issued in the Siege of Mafeking and money defaced as a commemoration such as a penny from 1918 with the date of the Armistice etched onto it.

Kelleher was particularly interesting on the design of the show which splits a large space into three using design to define the different themes. He also talked about how he included contemporary art which uses defaced money or newly printed money.

The talk gave a good overview of the show which I would like to go and see but probably won’t get time to go to Cambridge.

 


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