Money in Lights

There are some pieces of art that you see everywhere: Munch's The Scream, Van Gogh's Starry Night, Hirst's jeweled skull. And Tim Noble & Sue Webster's sculptural paeans to the almighty dollar?

Awaiting Figure Painting's return from vacation was a a holiday card from Phillips de Pury & Company that features a photo of the artists' YE$, which the auction house sold in November for more than half a million dollars, and a copy of Judith Benhamou-Huet's new book, The Worth of Art (2), with a complement to that work (simply $) on the cover. Déjà vu. When Jay-Z's music video for "Blue Magic" debuted this past fall, we noticed a YE$ billboard in the background. (Attempts to confirm that this is a Tim Noble & Sue Webster piece have been unsuccessful, but if it's not the real thing, it's directly inspired by it.)

Coincidence or new icon?

Tim Noble & Sue Webster, YE$, Photo Credit: Phillips de Pury & Company