Artists statement

In Wealth for Toil #2, Raquel Ormella continues her ongoing exploration of Australian identity and our relationship to winning and money. It is one in a series of banners which explores gold as both a precious metal and as a metaphor. The artwork’s title references the Australian National Anthem. Raquel critiques some of the less desirable aspects of Australian patriotism – specifically the national public outcry when the Australian swimming team did not come back with gold at the 2012 London Olympics, despite thousands of dollars being poured into the Australian Institute of Sport.

Inscriptions & markings

Australian currency incorporated into the work