Phantom Currency

Design: Sireen Tahhan
Story: Mohammed Badrieh
Building: Royal Palace, Tell el-Ful

This work celebrates the untapped potential of the abandoned mansion—an architectural masterpiece that never reached its intended grandeur. Yet, it is precisely this incomplete state that evokes a sense of wonder and sparks the imagination.
In Tahhan's quest for a souvenir, she asked herself what could be a more fitting way to pay homage and convey significance than by embellishing money.
Money is a platform to convey authority, historical significance, symbolism, and intrinsic value. Drawing from the storyteller's childhood memories and the profound irony of the unfinished structure, this souvenir becomes a reflection of the interplay between money and imagination; it becomes a living canvas, a platform to convey social, cultural, economic, and environmental commentary. By encapsulating these elements, the souvenir symbolizes the enduring importance of the captivating world of the unfinished mansion. It serves as a joyful tribute to the power of imagination.