-Prosperity Bank- still bank c. 20th century

Editor: Here we have the -Prosperity Bank- still bank, dating from around the 20th century. It's currently held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and seems to be primarily made of metal. The weathered texture really intrigues me. What can you tell me about it? Curator: What strikes me is the overt display of labor and globalized production. This simple object isn’t just about saving pennies. Note the “Japan” inscription – it highlights a specific manufacturing origin point, an important detail often overlooked. It implicates a system of labor, likely cheap labor, producing goods for the American market. Editor: So, you’re focusing on the production and its connection to… commerce? Curator: Exactly! Consider the material: inexpensive metal, mass-produced and stamped. The pink and blue paint – not exactly fine art colors, right? It’s all designed to be visually appealing and commercially viable. What's also compelling is the level of decay, rust eating away the functionality of the bank - it's like a small critique of consumerism and it's lasting impact on the enviornment. Editor: I see what you mean. The rust almost becomes part of its story, revealing the passage of time and challenging its original intent as a symbol of saving and prosperity. Curator: Precisely. We can see a challenge to art historical hierarchies - elevating something as humble as a coin bank manufactured for everyday use, for its material conditions. What does it say about our relationship to consumption? How is the definition of art is challenged? Editor: This reframes my perspective completely. It is more than an old coin bank; it reflects industrial processes and our culture of consumerism and saving through an object's materiality. Curator: Absolutely. We've unearthed some significant questions by digging into the materiality of this modest piece.