Calypso, folded ten euro note, edition of five plus A/P, 2008, private collection
Calypso, folded ten euro note, edition of five plus A/P, 2008, private collection
This work was one of twelve ivited responses to a calypso tune titled ‘Calypso Blues’ written by Nat King Cole in 1951 and recorded by vocalist Mona Baptiste:
Sittin' by de ocean
Me heart, she feel so sad,
Sittin' by de ocean,
Me heart, she feel so sad...
Don't got de money
To take me back to Trinidad.
In Trinidad, one dollar buy
Papaya juice, banana pie,
Six coconut, one female goat,
An' plenty fish to fill de boat.
One bushel bread, one barrel wine,
An' all de town, she come to dine.
But here is bad, one dollar buy
Cup of coffee, ham on rye.
Me throat she sick from necktie,
Me feet hurt from shoes.
Me pocket full of empty,
I got Calypso blues.
‘The music epitomises a sense of diminishing values, identity, and place as an experience that remains relevant to Ireland in the 21st century’ – Sally Timmons, curator.
One of a number of projects that explicitly address the economic conditions of the commissioning process, Calypso is an edition of moneygami boats made from ten euro banknotes. The entire commissioning fee is made material and available for resale.
Commissioned by
Commonplace Amateur Projects for the group show Take me Back to Trinidad, 2008