Magabuck from Ben Turnbull Revealed in Philadelphia

British artist Ben Turnbull has unveiled MAGABUCK in Philadelphia. It features a US dollar bill made from collages of vintage comics collected over decades. It explores themes of power, corruption, and history. All reflecting on America’s complex identity while also acting as a warning.

Symbols

MAGABUCK in Philadelphia is an illegal wildposting. Featuring symbols such as Captain America’s shield and wrestling memorabilia. It highlights how power and patriotism can be commodified. Turnbull and Candidate Q invites audiences to think about their role in these narratives. Sparking conversations about nationalism and cultural mythology. The public’s reaction, whether defacement or praise, is considered part of the work. It mirrors the chaos it critiques.

Candidate Q

The artist, who also goes by the alter-ego ‘Candidate Q‘ has held a long fascination with Americana. Influenced by American television and mythology. His work addresses themes like nationalism, propaganda and cultural mythology.

MAGABUCK

Originally conceived as a warning, MAGABUCK now reflects the unsettling reality of MAGA politics and the rise of extremism. Turnbull compares it to Birth of a Nation, a film infamous for glorifying nationalist propaganda. By doing so, he positions MAGABUCK as a counter-narrative, challenging recurring historical patterns and dangerous political ideologies.

Subversive

The wildposting is illegal by design. It makes the act of displaying it as subversive as the message it conveys. Turnbull expects acts of critique or destruction, which become symbolic extensions of the artwork’s themes of power and chaos. It starts to blur the line between the art and its environment, making the setting integral to its meaning.

Rebirth of a Nation

Turnbull draws inspiration from Alan Parker’s The Wall and Gerald Scarfe’s haunting animation. In particular Bob Geldof’s destructive yet creative scene in the film. This moment, where fragments of chaos are turned into a collage, reflects the transformation of destruction into creation. It serves as a central theme in Turnbull’s work, embodied in MAGABUCK and the larger Rebirth of a Nation series.

MAGABUCK is part of a broader project from Ben Turnbull and Candidate Q. It leads up to Rebirth of a Nation, opening in London from 24 March 2025. The project and the exhibition is supported by Olly Studio. All photos are courtesy of Ben Turnbull and Candidate Q.

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