Marten

Artist statement:

This drawing depicts the animal marten, its form emerging from a dark shadow. Within the shadow hides the silhouette of the very first Croatian kuna ever printed, as if the past looms over the present and remains alive in memory.

The idea is that the modern kuna casts a shadow over the old one, yet does not erase it – the old kuna remains in the shadow, in traces and remembrance. This visual interplay between the animal and the banknote symbolizes continuity and change, and how national identity and symbols are carried through time.

The drawing was created as a proposal for a competition related to the euro and the kuna in Croatia, where the goal was to connect the monetary symbol with its origin and meaning. Through a simple yet strong composition, the work invites the viewer to reflect on what remains behind money – on memory, identity, and history that continues in new forms.