Ryan Presley’s Blood Money Exchange at Tarnanthi

This is just the cleverly constructed Travelex-type money changing booth where patrons could go and purchase blood money – limited edition currency printed by Ryan Presley as a substitute for our current notes. His $100, $50, $20 and $10 dollar bills were based on his large, beautifully painted watercolours upstairs of the same subject. He “reimagines Australia’s national currency as a celebration of Aboriginal history” the handout advises us, as we are introduced to heroes who didn’t make it onto our decimal currency: Pemulwuy, Jandamara, Vincent ingiari and Oogeroo Noonuccal, to name a few. The exchange rate was 2.2% when I bought my new notes, the proceeds going to SA-based aboriginal youth organisations. Congratulations Ryan on an innovative idea, masterfully realised.