# Money Locust Swarms 'The Plague' by Sipho Mabona Reflects on the Evilness of Currency By Harris Jay Rosenberg Alterman | Published 2012-03-13 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-plague-by-sipho-mabona References: [mymodernmet](http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/sipho-mabona-locusts-origami) & [flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/sipmab/) 'The Plague' by Sipho Mabona is a [giant swarm of bugs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bug-collection-1) made entirely made out of money. Mabona says money "buzzes above the global economy like a biblical swarm of locust," and that money has become less a tool for exchange and more the source of greed and exploitation. The entire swarm of money-bugs only took Mabona four or five hours to complete because he is quite the [origami master](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fragmenti). Once finshed shaping the dollar bills into locust, Mabona hung them on stings at different levels to make it seem as if the swarm is taking off from the ground. The Plague by Sipho Mabona will be on display at the [Japanese American National Museum](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/museums-freeforall) in Los Angeles until late August of 2012 along with tons of other pieces of origami art creations. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.4/10 - Popularity: 42% | Activity: 22% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Art-inspired Protest:** Artists are using their creativity to bring awareness to economic issues and call for change. - **Alternative Currency:** The rise of alternative currency may disrupt traditional monetary systems and shift power away from centralized institutions. - **Sustainable Consumption:** The negative impact of consumer culture is driving consumers towards more sustainable and ethical spending practices. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Art:** Artists are creating new works that challenge the status quo and inspire activism, creating opportunities for galleries and collectors to invest in social justice art pieces. - **Fintech:** The increasing dissatisfaction with traditional banking systems may spur innovation in financial technologies and lead to the creation of alternative currency systems. - **Sustainable Fashion:** The shift towards sustainable consumption will drive demand for ethical fashion brands and create opportunities for companies to innovate in eco-friendly materials and production methods. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Educational Plush Clips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plagues-from-history-backpack-clips.md) - [Bug-Inspired Jewelry](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/murder-hornet-ring.md) - [Life-Sized Puzzled Insect Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/insect-collection.md) - [Insect-Inspired Bronze Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/insect-bronze-sculptures.md) - [Inflation-Themed Lighters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/moneylighter.md) - [Edible Insect Lollipops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pest-infested-pops.md) - [Stunning Origami Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/origami-portaits.md) - [Apocalypse Post Pandemic Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/contemporary-urban-art.md) - [Pest Control NFTs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/collection-of-nfts.md)