Artist Visa is a performative sculpture in the form of a gold plastic “credit card” featuring a single digit, “0,” at its center. The card contains nothing else: no cardholder name, no expiration date, no other digits. The central zero serves as the only identifier; it represents a conceptual statement that “0 is enough for identification.” By using zero instead of a traditional name or numerical sequence, the work challenges conventional notions of identity, value, and social status.

The piece critiques the position of the artist in contemporary society, while simultaneously addressing broader societal dynamics. In a world dominated by materialism, credit, and virtual financial instruments, objects such as gold, platinum, or silver credit cards—often symbolic and unattainable—become markers of status and perceived accomplishment. Artist Visa exposes these structures, highlighting how life is mediated through credit, loans, and the illusion of material wealth. The card’s zero is a reminder that identification and status are often abstract, socially constructed, and performative.
The sculpture was activated through participatory performances in which the public was invited to engage with the cards as if they were real credit cards.

• Berlin, 2013: During the opening of an exhibition, I distributed “gold credit cards” to visitors. Attendees attempted to use the cards in nearby shops. Although the cards lacked active magnetic strips or any connection to banking systems, participants proceeded as if making real purchases. The interactions created moments of confusion, humor, and absurdity, emphasizing the social rituals surrounding money and commerce.

• Warsaw, 2015: The performance was repeated with passers-by. One German collector tried to pay for cakes using a card, persistently urging shopkeepers to process the transaction. The shop staff, though polite and persistent, could not complete any purchases. These attempts generated unexpected scenarios and highlighted the tension between social expectation and material reality.