☉Cult takes the concept of $Darkbushi’s “identity as currency” to its next evolution, shifting the focus from the individual to the collective. Where Darkbushi critiques the commodification of self, ☉Cult examines the commodification of belonging and the systems of loyalty, power, and value that define modern communities.
Born from Darkbushi’s relentless pursuit of attention as the ultimate currency, ☉Cult reimagines what it means to lead, follow, and belong. If identity thrives on visibility, then community becomes the engine of influence. ☉Cult is both a critique and an experiment—a living exploration of how groups form, grow, and trade their own collective worth.
The Artwork
☉Cult features scanned images of real U.S. dollar bills, embedding their individuality through the marks of their lived histories—creases, wear, serial numbers, and imperfections. Each bill is transformed into a unique artifact of collective trust and belief, mirroring the community it represents.
But ☉Cult is more than a collection of objects; it is a test of connection and allegiance. Membership begins with a small group of initiates, who mint their pieces for free and set the foundation for the community. To join, new members must be invited in by existing members and meet one simple requirement: they must agree to “Do what’s best for ☉Cult.” This oath, both binding and ambiguous, makes every participant complicit in shaping the community’s evolution—and its value.
The Experiment
☉Cult is a living artwork where participation is the medium. It explores the mechanisms of devotion and exchange, inviting members to grapple with their roles as both collaborators and commodities. By embedding trust and exclusivity into the fabric of the project, ☉Cult becomes a mirror for the systems of power and belonging that shape our lives.
The use of fiat currency as the project’s visual foundation reflects the shared fictions that underpin both money and communities. Just as dollars derive their value from collective belief, so too does ☉Cult—testing the boundaries between connection and commodification, faith and transaction.
The Question
☉Cult asks its members to confront a fundamental tension: Is community built on shared purpose, or is every act of belonging ultimately transactional? Can allegiance transcend the systems that measure and monetize it?
The Performance
☉Cult is not a collection. It’s a phenomenon. A living exploration of the intersections between loyalty, power, and value. It challenges its members to navigate the blurred lines between identity and devotion, connection and exchange. In the end, ☉Cult is more than an artwork—it’s a question made flesh: What does it cost to belong, and who sets the price?
