yurko dyachyshyn extends 'saint franklin' collage series

yurko dyachyshyn extends ‘saint franklin’ collage series 
(above) ‘saint franklin’s last supper #1’ — original collage 40X60cm
all images © yurko dyachyshyn

ukrainian photographer yurko dyachyshyn has been delighting us with his ‘saint franklin’ art project (see our previous coverage here), where he creates handmade collages, blending orthodox christian icons with $100 bills. the series showcases the cult for money, without being an attempt to blame the church or an allegation against benjamin franklin. the artist now presents us with his latest works added to the project and some comments he has on it.

‘saint franklin’s last supper #2’ — original collage 32X45cm

what motivated you to create the ‘saint franklin’ series?

yurko dyachyshyn: the idea of the project crossed my mind a while ago, around two years ago. by that time, the natural currency of ukraine hryvnia (UAH) had plunged in value, and the issue of foreign currency, as well as financial security savings, particularly of the US dollar, had become of immediate interest after the ukrainian military actions in the country. the news covered the exchange rate of the dollar, how difficult it was to buy it, and how monetary panic had intensified, affecting practically everyone. people figuratively prayed to the dollar and euro. that’s why I decided that it was the perfect time to create the project that later became known as ’saint franklin’.

‘saint franklin’ — original collage 15X18cm

why did you choose benjamin franklin for your series and not washington or lincoln?

yd: for post-soviet space and for ukraine in particular, the one hundred dollar bill has always been a symbol of wealth, prosperity, measure of payments, and a pattern of material happiness. the bill has always been a subject of jokes and common in slang, also it is the most spread illustration in money subjects.

the portrait of benjamin franklin on the one-hundred dollar bill is the most recognizable one, as well as the most desirable for everybody. but franklin’s personality is unknown for the overwhelming majority of people. most people consider him of the US presidents which he wasn’t. during the work process, I decided to get more acquainted with the person from the banknote, reading his biography. I found out details of his life that convinced me that I made the right choice. franklin’s attitude towards money and religion made him the perfect candidate.

‘saint franklin’ — original collage 15X18cm

what is the message behind the series?

yd: this is just another example of visualization of materialism. the cult of st. franklin worship is extended in different manifestations and forms around the globe. ‘saint franklin’ may have different semblances and may change depending on time and location, embodying the actual visual form for a specific period and space — it can be called dollar, euro, yen, gold, diamonds, ferrari, etc.

among different religions and faiths present in the world, the cult of ‘saint franklin’ and its other forms occupies the first place regarding the actual number of followers. people worship him without noticing or realizing it. I have chosen this visual form because, in my opinion, it perfectly illustrates this phenomenon putting forwards many different questions. it causes discussions allowing different interpretations and attempts to find the truth and answers for the individual the masses. it must be admitted that money is argued to be the world’s true and only religion.

‘saint franklin (franklin king glory 200)’ — original collage 30x40cm

what is the process of creating these images?

yd: all the works are handmade using sacred orthodox icons and hundred-dollar bills, both real and fake.

‘saint franklin (pastor)’ — original collage 25X35cm

what reactions do you get from people? has anyone been felt offended by your series?

yd: the city of lviv, where I live, is for the most part very religious, as well as all western ukraine, so many people have interpreted aggressively these works, considering them as a sacrilege. since I published my first works on facebook, a virtual fight between opponents and supporters began. in ukraine, opponents of the project perceived it only from the point of the icon, saints, and church insult. no one cares about franklin here. in the US it might look a little different and can be perceived as an insult.

‘saint franklin (pastor)’ — original collage 25X35cm

‘saint franklins (200)’ — original collage 30x40cm

‘saint franklin’ — original collage 15X18cm

‘saint franklin’ — original collage 15X18cm

‘saint franklin’ — original collage 15X18cm

‘saint franklin’ — original collage 15X18cm

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: juliana neira | designboom