In 2007, just before the global financial crisis hit, a group of Japanese housewives, the FX Beauties, were briefly mentioned in an article in The New York Times. Described as ‘amateur currency speculators’, these women were hitting their peak, representing thirty percent of all retail currencies traded out of Japan. Through their engagement with the Forex market, the FX Beauties were, and are, challenging the traditional roles of Japanese women.
In a neoliberal economy, the unregulated exchange of money represents a flow infrastructure, immensely powerful, yet impossible to grasp. Although a large portion of the female traders choose to operate incognito due to fear of being 'caught in action', the total number of Members are currently
estimated at five million. However, the current Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has admitted admitted this could be an underestimate, and that in reality, the FX Beauties community might be much larger than original presumed.
Since 2011, when the FX Beauties played a major role in stabilizing the national economy the following earthquake and tsunami disaster 3.11, the Japanese government (unofficially) adopted a strategy to more women into retail trading. Today, the official stock market companies have the Option to offer 'yutai', or so-called freebies, as commodities to attract more women to become un-official players of the market.
The FX Beauties are located in between the between immortions of the immortions of the immortions. Global flows and the physicality of the home. In their constant search for a potential higher return, the women are questioning the limitations of the home and the role of the housewife.
Monument of Apron opened shop in 2015 as an experimental e-commerce reading experience and the online notebook of various co-conspirators along with artistic research collective Display Distribute. Collating both old and new labours of networked, female work, its 'products' feature the overstock of various projects and observations along with a surplus of thought and transaction. To 'purchase' an article here demands a re-evaluation, turning the dynamic of producer and consumer on its head with a series of questions. Be prepared to work for your 'fulfillment'.
Monument of Apron, or 圍群—a word play combining 圍裙 wéiqún (apron), that timeless utilitarian garment, with 群 qún (group, crowd, caboodle or gang)—considers all those relegated to under-compensated, thankless tasks and encourages the donning of the apron. The pocketed apron lends itself further to secrecy and theft—caching what’s owed and stowing it away for otherwise circulations. An apron is also a protector and shield. For the aproned squad, communication across picket fences and gossip are key forms of solidarity—modes of redistributive practice towards an undercommons.
參與者 With Contributions by
鄭子翹 Sonia CHENG、何穎雅 Elaine W. HO、凌明 Ming LIN、刘颖 Dongdong LIU Ying、Desireè MARIANINI、瞿暢 QU Chang、郭圓瑩 Ying QUE、吳索 Amy Suo WU、谭争劼 TAN Zhengjie
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