The most wasteful craft, American artist Mark Wagner uses U.S. dollars to DIY collages! 15 years ago, Wagner first used U.S. dollars to create collages, and he has been out of control ever since. His collages are all made with 1 dollar bills, tens of thousands of which have been used to date.
"Freedom", Wagners hand-made collage of U.S. dollar bills, is 17 feet tall (approximately 5 meters) and consists of nearly 82,000 bill fragments.
Partial details of the DIY collage "Freedom".
Wagners collage "Freedom" created with U.S. dollar bills is 17 feet tall and composed of nearly 82,000 bill fragments.
Wagner, 42, who lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, creates collages of dollar bills primarily using an X-Acto carving knife and glue. First, he cuts the banknotes with a carving knife to separate details such as faces and numbers, and then stores them in designated boxes. After conceiving the collage theme, Wagner collaged the fragments together.
Wagner is cutting the banknotes with an X-Acto engraving knife. CBS reporter Anthony Mason once asked Wagner: "Is it expensive to create collages with banknotes?" Wagner responded: "Not really. Banknotes are not the most expensive part of the creative process. The biggest cost is time." ”
Wagners portrait of Lincoln using banknotes.
Washington became a "frequent" in the collages created by Wagner, and his image appears in many works. He said: "If I want to create a portrait, I tend to think of Washington. Of all theIn peoples eyes, he is an iconic symbol of America. ”
Banknote version of the Mona Lisa.
Banknote version of the Mona Lisa.
Wagners collage of banknotes is intended to prompt discussion about the nature of money and the identity of America. "I'm not creating posters or protest signs," he said. "I think art exists in two places. Its in my mind when I'm creating it, and its in peoples minds when they're looking at it." In my mind, there is a difference between the two."
A collage of banknotes by Wagner titled "Brainstorm."
Wagner’s banknote collage “Buying the Brooklyn Bridge.”
I.O.U., a banknote collage created by Wagner.
Wagners banknote collage "Concerned Citizens".
Wagners banknote collage "The Way of the Dinosaurs"
A collage of banknotes by Wagner showing a Brechtian-esque scene.
Wagner’s banknote version of Obama’s face.
