Beam, 2023
Information :
Beam transforms U.S. dollar bills into the form of an I-beam, drawing a parallel between structural and financial support. In architecture, an I-beam carries weight, distributes pressure, and provides stability to a building; in contemporary life, money often performs a similar function, supporting access to housing, education, healthcare, mobility, and opportunity. By constructing a symbol of physical strength from fragile paper currency, the work introduces a contradiction between material weakness and social power. Beam questions how deeply financial value has become embedded in the structures of everyday life, suggesting that while buildings depend on beams to remain standing, individuals are increasingly expected to depend on money to maintain stability, security, and social position.
