Works of art and their value are intrinsically linked. Much like alchemists, successful artists possess the ability to transform the mundane—be it paint, canvas, clay, or everyday household objects—into gold. While this is often romanticized, it applies to only a select few. Nonetheless, the Western tradition of canonizing select artists and movements has contributed to sustained and often dramatic increases in market value. Increasingly, the perceived quality of the work is now defined by its monetary worth. This is not a new phenomenon, but within the logic of contemporary capitalism, it has taken on hyperbolic proportions.
In Claude Money, A–FL compiles thirty years of auction data for paintings by Claude Monet. The phonetic resemblance between the Impressionist’s surname and the currency used to measure his significance serves as the conceptual point of departure. The results are compiled in the form of a dry, statistical record, bound in a softcover book. Each cover features an American one-dollar bill, individually altered through hand foiling to spell out the title—a visual gesture that underscores the central inquiry of the work.
Biography
A-FL (b. 1985) lives and works in Gothenburg, Sweden. The conceptual point of departure is often a found object—whether tangible or intangible. From urban debris collected on the street to curiosities sourced at flea markets, such materials are treated as ready-made components in assemblages: ingredients, visual cues, or prompts. These objets trouvés may also take immaterial forms—a discovered word or phrase, an idea—ripe for appropriation or inviting a response.
Using the book as a vehicle for exploring questions of identity, language and culture, A-FL has published a number of editions with LL’Editions. In 2021, he released the book Första Januari, published by Hundörat Small Press, Stockholm. The artist’s book was proof-read by the legendary Swedish artist and Fluxus pioneer Bengt af Klintberg. A-FL’s recent releases include For Your Tears, a multiple made in collaboration with Heimo Zobernig (AU) and Simon Iurino (IT), Imposter Syndrome, a multiple released in 2023, Mixed Blessing; a multiple consisting of 100 needles and an aspirin in a medicine bottle, and Bergmans Banaliteter (Bergman’s Banalities), published by Farozonen Förlag in 2024.
