Iraqi fils | 2010 | 2d | 3d work

Bonhams - London 2010

Footnote:

'As a unit of currency the Iraqi fils was fazed out of circulation in 1959 with the beginning of Iraqi Republic. 'The fils has the potential to create stories and changes destinies and it is a dramatic moment when we toss the coin to the air looking if it's heads or tails, win or lose. Coin flipping is the interpretation of a chance outcome as the expression of divine will. 'Some people in Iraq used to keep a one fils coin in their pocket for good luck. One shouldn't belittle the fils and 1000 fils makes one dinar, one fils less and it is not a dinar. 'Because of its duality or double faced meaning I found it an important icon to depict artistically and was concerned with how it often influences politics, religion or faith, economy and cultural practice. With this work I am trying to reach the spectators eyes and mind from an uncommon point of view but with a very common coin.'

Nedim Kufi, April 2010.