Elana Katz and Philip Metz
KILL BILL 24 examines the history of the island of Manhattan, which was officially purchased from the Lenape Indians by the governor of New Amsterdam, Peter Minuit, in 1626, for the sum of 24 dollars. These $24 are notorious in the history of New York, for this purchase lead to the eventual destruction of Manhattan’s indigenous population. In KILL BILL 24, an effort is made to clean this dirty money with which Manhattan, America’s economic capital, was founded.
Part I takes place on Broadway in lower Manhattan, for Broadway is in fact a trail created by the Native Americans of the island, and adopted by the Dutch with the establishment of New Amsterdam in the 17th century. 24 one-dollar bills are collected from the viewers, and the bills undergo a preliminary washing.
Part II is completed in a private gallery space, for the full washing bleaches the bills, in fact erasing the money. The piece results in a series of 24 erased US dollar bills.