The artist rebuilt a mill of blood. Mills of blood were the mills used where there were no resources other than physical labor. Water, carbon, or wind was unavailable, and the human body was the only power source.
This mill was used to mint silver coins when Latin America was a Spanish colony. There were three mills —one in Mexico, one in Peru, and a third one in the highlands of Peru or Bolivia. Mills of Blood were initially powered by oxen or donkeys, except for the mill in Bolivia. It was located 1312 feet above sea level, where the extreme weather made animals die regularly; hence, natives were used instead, as they were cheaper for the Spanish Crown. I traveled to Bolivia to see some of the original drawings and sketches of this machine, and based on them, I rebuilt it, at 1:55 scale, as a Catholic relic.
This mill was used to mint silver coins when Latin America was a Spanish colony. There were three mills —one in Mexico, one in Peru, and a third one in the highlands of Peru or Bolivia. Mills of Blood were initially powered by oxen or donkeys, except for the mill in Bolivia. It was located 1312 feet above sea level, where the extreme weather made animals die regularly; hence, natives were used instead, as they were cheaper for the Spanish Crown. I traveled to Bolivia to see some of the original drawings and sketches of this machine, and based on them, I rebuilt it, at 1:55 scale, as a Catholic relic.