The former Finnish 50 Markka (Mark) bill, showing the profile (front) and a design by (back) the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto... Before Finland joined the Euro, we had the Finnish 'Markka' ('Mark' in Swedish, Finland's second official language). On its various denominations it, instead of Kings, Queens or rulers, depicted various (self made) cultural figures such as a poet, a philosopher, a writer, a composer, an athlete or, as above, an architect... There's something strangely comforting (in a democratic kind of way) about the idea of honouring individuals based on their congenial achievements rather than their place/ context of birth, military, political or piety based positions...
In the Gulf and Middle-East, who would be the comparable individuals to those depicted on the former Finnish currency..? A question that, in the context of the GCC's not too distant plans for a common currency, isn't too abstract or far fetched. Which individuals or what elements (landscapes, buildings, objects, events) would be simultaneously specific and generic enough to represent the region as a whole..? How should such depictions be distributed amongst the nations - a bill for each GCC member country, or should the bills & coins aim to show something that is common to all the participating nations? Should the currency deal with historical or more current interests (pearl fishing vs. skyscrapers)..?
It's an interesting dilemma as it summarizes many of the issues which the Gulf, as a collective of individual nations, is currently struggling with...
No comments:
Post a Comment