Money is rarely just about currency; it is about power, greed, desperation and the whimsical pursuit of fortune. In Paris, the intersection of finance and fantasy has found a home at the Monnaie de Paris, where a new exhibition explores the multifaceted nature of wealth through the lens of the “ninth art.”
Titled “CLING !”—an onomatopoeia mimicking the sharp sound of a coin hitting the floor—the exhibition examines how Franco-Belgian and American comics have historically visualized money. By blending high-art curation with the accessibility of pop culture, the show transforms the Monnaie de Paris into a gallery of financial archetypes, ranging from the legendary hoard of Scrooge McDuck to the desperate scrapes of the marginalized.
The exhibition features more than 200 original comic plates and drawings, showcasing a curated history of how the ink-and-paper world handles the concept of value. From the global adventures of Tintin to the frontier justice of Lucky Luke, the curation suggests that while the currency changes, the human psychology surrounding it remains constant across borders and eras.
The Eight Archetypes of Wealth
Rather than a chronological history, curator Lucas Hureau and Franco-Scottish artist Damien Macdonald organized the exhibition around eight distinct psychological profiles. These archetypes categorize characters based on their relationship with money, providing a sociological map of the comic book world.
The framework identifies the following figures:
- The Adventurer: Those driven by the quest for hidden gold and lost treasures.
- The Thief: Characters who acquire wealth through stealth and crime.
- The Saver: The hoarders who find security in accumulation.
- The Marginalized: Those existing on the fringes of society, defined by their lack of funds.
- The Billionaire: The titans of industry who amass vast fortunes.
- The Gambler: Those who seek sudden, high-stakes windfalls.
- The Forger: The deceivers who create wealth through artifice and fraud.
- The Alchemist: The mystical creators who attempt to conjure gold from nothing.
Hureau noted that these tropes are pervasive across the medium, citing the Spanish classics Mortadelo y Filemón by Francisco Ibáñez as a prime example of how comic art leans on these financial stereotypes to drive humor and plot.
From Alchemical Smurfs to Political Satire
The exhibition is punctuated by original works from prominent French artists, including Coco and Catherine Meurisse. One notable piece reimagines the Asterix character Obélix, who is depicted carrying a geode—a mineral formation—instead of his traditional menhir, subtly shifting the focus from strength to geological value.
Beyond the traditional comic plates, the Monnaie de Paris has integrated immersive installations to bridge the gap between traditional ink and modern digital finance. In one darkened room, visitors encounter a life-sized replica of “Mikki,” a black and gold robot created by Oscar-nominated French artist Ugo Bienvenu. The robot sits in solitude, contemplating a pile of coins, accompanied by a provocative question: “Do robots dream of cryptocurrencies?”
The exhibition also takes a sharp turn toward contemporary political critique through a floor-based parody of the board game Monopoly. Titled “Fricpoly” or “Pastapoly,” the game mocks real-world magnates and political figures. In this satirical version, Donald Trump is positioned on the tax payment square, while former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is placed in the “visitors only” section of the jail cell.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Ninth Art
To ensure the exhibition appeals to both academic collectors and young families, the curators integrated a variety of interactive media. This includes dedicated comic reading zones and the projection of cinematic excerpts, such as sequences from Hayao Miyazaki’s 1979 masterpiece, The Castle of Cagliostro, which centers on a master forger.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Core Collection | 200+ original comic plates |
| Key Characters | Tintin, Lucky Luke, Scrooge McDuck, Asterix |
| Curatorial Focus | 8 archetypes of financial behavior |
| Interactive Elements | Reading spaces, animated films, life-size sculptures |
The goal, according to Hureau, was to create a space that feels “specialized” for the hardcore comic enthusiast while remaining “accessible” for children who grew up reading The Smurfs or Asterix.
Visiting the Monnaie de Paris
The exhibition is designed as an educational journey. Visitors can engage with a guide designed to help them identify which of the eight financial archetypes best describes their own personality, and the museum offers comic drawing workshops to encourage the next generation of artists.
The “CLING !” exhibition will remain open to the public at the Monnaie de Paris until September 6. For those planning a visit, the museum’s official site provides updated hours and registration for the associated workshops.
As the exhibition continues through the summer, it serves as a reminder that whether through a gold coin or a digital token, the stories we tell about money are ultimately stories about who we are. We invite you to share your thoughts on these comic archetypes in the comments below.
