UK artist turns 'money for old rope' into £1m art exhibition

British artist David Shrigley has transformed tonnes of discarded rope into an art installation at a London gallery, placing a playful £1 million price tag on it—a literal take on the phrase “money for old rope.” Opening Friday at the Stephen Friedman Gallery in central London, the work features four massive piles of old rope weighing around 10 tonnes, transported on 60 pallets after months of collection.

Shrigley, a Turner Prize-nominated artist, describes the project as primarily fun. “I decided to act upon the British aphorism, which basically means you’re being paid for something that has no inherent value,” he explained. “I was interested to see what would happen if you made a literal representation of that saying.”

Over seven months, Shrigley and his team collected ropes discarded by fishermen, climbing centres, and docks across Britain. Once brought to his Brighton studio, the ropes were cleaned and prepared for display. “People were quite willing to give old rope for nothing because it’s not recyclable,” he said.

Installation at the gallery was straightforward. “I didn’t really have a plan; I just piled it up. There was no aesthetic decision—just four big piles roughly the same size,” he said. The £1 million price tag, he admits, is deliberately “high” and part of the joke. Yet, he defends it humorously: “By weight, it’s very good value. You’re not going to get much art for a million pounds, but 10 tonnes represents quite good value for money.”

Shrigley emphasizes that the piece is open to interpretation. “Art is not a puzzle with a single answer. It’s a trigger for discussion, for ideas,” he said. “I’m presenting something that has no value, something redundant. Perhaps there’s a bit of pathos in that.”

He acknowledges that some will dismiss the work as cynical, but he sees that as part of its purpose. “Sure, it’s a joke, but it’s very open-ended. It’s a proposition to have a discussion about it,” he explained.

The exhibition, free for the public, runs until December 20. Shrigley doubts anyone will buy it, but welcomes visitors to engage with the work: “It’s kind of nice—come and see it, see what you think. If you’ve got a million pounds plus VAT, you could invest wisely.”

By combining humor, commentary on value, and the sheer physicality of 10 tonnes of rope, Shrigley challenges conventional notions of art while inviting conversation and reflection in a distinctly British, tongue-in-cheek style.