Contemporary Faceless Migrant Profile Portrait on Coin. French. "Currency #235"

In "Currency #235", Natasha Lelenco presents a surreal portrait of a figure set against a muted purple backdrop, with the profile face partially obscured by abstract, almost erased blue brushstrokes. The inscription surrounding the profile reads in French: "Pays qui n'existe plus que dans un souvenir", which translates to "A country that only exists in a memory." The erasure of the facial features symbolizes the fading connection to one’s homeland, evoking themes of loss, memory, and disconnection often experienced in the migrant journey.

The piece is painted on a circular wooden panel, 26 cm in diameter, with the vibrant blue and red elements adding a striking contrast to the subdued background. The random value of 170 euros painted on the piece continues the artist’s reflection on the arbitrary nature of value assigned to lives based on origin or class, exploring the imbalance in the human experience.