Exchange Currencies nº1 Painting

This piece is part of a series I've titled "Exchange Currencies," which relates to my own story as a migrant, first to Romania and finally to Spain, where I was naturalized. In this series, I explore the idea of foreignness and not belonging. Typically, coins feature the face of a representative of the nation, a leader, or a historical figure. However, these wooden coins, in this case with a diameter of 55cm, feature anonymous portraits framed by floral backgrounds that reference Moldavian folklore and the pixel grids used to create virtual images. My aim is to encourage reflection on the value of money and life. In contrast to the durable, mass-produced metal coins, these wooden coins seek to evoke the idea of the ephemeral and also of chance in shaping the value that lives and things have. One of the constants in my work is the creation of panels, which, through the repetitive use of representations make a narrative. The visual element of repetition, particularly in the form of portraits, is a graphic obsession for me that captures a world where seriality is a defining feature. The coins are designed to be displayed individually or in the form of panels with other pieces from the same series, as can be seen in the third of the pictures. The edge of the piece, made by overlapping three plywood panels, complements the color palette chosen for the creation of this face, as can be seen in image 2.