Currency

When exhibiting artwork in galleries, sometimes the establishment requires me to have public liability insurance. I have a policy so that’s no drama but what the gallery needs in order to establish my credentials is the highly prized Certificate of Currency. This document proves I am up to date with payments and, as the name suggests, currently insured.

A Certificate of Currency is by no means something confined to either public liability or the art world. I was recently asked to produce one regarding our ordinary property insurance. In fact, I’m beginning to think a Certificate of Currency is something we could adopt even more broadly.

I am thinking a document such as this might be worth carrying at all times. It would indicate to the world that I am a fully-paid-up, card-carrying member of the human race, that I am up-to-date with life and wider existence. My personal Certificate of Currency would be evidence I’m aware of the risks and taking responsibility, being ready. Perhaps everyone should have one.

Actually, now I write that and in a complete turn-around, it sounds like quite a lot of pressure – to maintain, year after year, such a connection with what’s going on around me. What about changes in technology: the internet, various social media, even the sophisication of a late-model mobile phone? What about the news – good and bad and, often, incredibly complex? Am I willing to undertake to be currently in tune with those things and so many more?

I don’t think so. Perhaps a global-wide installation of Certificates of Currency is a requirement, some sort of human leveller, that we don’t need to introduce. That’s lucky. It was beginning to look like a rather large obligation.

Until later, and totally uncertified,

Kirsten