Description

1-of-1, Unique piece. Comes with Certificate of Authenticity.

A relic of amusement becomes a monument to irony and identity. $luto! is a sculptural intervention on an original fiberglass carousel ride from the 1960s-70s, reimagined through the lens of cultural
critique.

This piece forms part of the Th1s i$ Amerika series — a body of work confronting the myths and contradictions of American capitalism, pop iconography, and national storytelling. What was once an innocent children’s ride is now layered with complexity. The figure is covered in approximately 300 genuine one-dollar bills, painstakingly hand-applied – a gesture that blurs the line between literal and symbolic value. The use of real currency elevates the object into a shrine of economic fetishism. Money, here, is not just medium but message.

The sculpture’s eyes are replaced with 32mm black Swarovski crystals glittering, empty, luxurious, and ominous. A custom-made leather collar with golden brass spikes adorns its neck, merging aesthetic cues
from punk, BDSM, and high fashion. This accessorizing of a beloved cartoon dog references the cultural domestication of rebellion: how edginess and resistance are often absorbed, pacified, and sold back to us as
style.

The title, ‘$luto!’, is a collision of names and meanings. It echoes “Pluto,” Disney’s loyal companion, while simultaneously invoking “slut” and the omnipresent dollar sign — a deliberate provocation. The sculpture becomes an allegory for how a nation willingly offers up its innocence, dreams, and characters to the highest bidder. It questions whether loyalty (like Pluto’s) is just another product in a marketplace obsessed with branding, nostalgia, and control.

‘$luto!’ invites the viewer to reflect on the commodification of joy and identity: the ride that once spun in circles now stands still, fossilized in paper money. It is both celebration and eulogy — a nostalgic artifact
turned cultural autopsy.