When walking through the museum, something students rarely find the time to do in the busy schedule, it became clear how much amazing art is at our disposal. When walking through the collection of works both focused on origins and otherwise, I was particularly drawn to the work by Santiago Montoya, the Wall of Lamentation XIII. Montoya’s work depicted rolls of money from all over the world. These money rolls were arranged in no particular order at first glance. When looking closer one could argue that there was in fact an order. However, I do not think that the arrangement of the money has a particular meaning aside from its ascetics.

Looking at this work, I began to think about how money related to the topic of origins. When I think of money  I think of spending, shopping, and mainly survival. In the world we live in today so much of what we do revolves around money. How much you have, how you make it, and what you are going to do with the money you have. I then thought about what the world was like before actual money. What did people trade and was society as strongly dictated by something like a piece of paper? Before the currency we think of today people traded objects, livestock, and other common goods. Its hard to imagine a world where rocks were once considered an acceptable form of payment. Then again we as a species have made the choice to change the way in which we trade. While some might view the world we live in as unnatural, we are truly acting on our natural instincts. This is where origins ties in. The origins of our modern day world stems from very natural instincts which we act on daily. If anything it is just our need for survival. Montoya aims to highlight that while currencies vary from country to country. their main purpose stays the same. While many view economy as a diving factor among a society, it is actually a common thread among differing people. Money and the desire to have more of it is something that everyone can relate to.

When thinking about money and the role it plays in our society I began to think about different cultures and how money influences them. While everyone strives to have money in their life, I began to think about how money often pulls a community apart. Those with more money become focused on the luxuries of life rather than on the necessities. While those with limited funds appreciate the things they have more. Some cultures, which may have originated from similar beginnings, have now diverged due to the role of money.

Its hard to imagine how a world where farmers would trade livestock for currency has evolved into the advanced commercialized society we live in today. The seemingly unnatural world we live in however, plays off very natural instincts that is deeply rooted within humans. The natural instincts which have driven humans to build the society we currently live in are the originating force behind commerce and the need for power.