The Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire
Unlike most crowns, which are tied to specific geographic borders and hereditary bloodlines, the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire represented a supranational authority. This universal claim of power was often challenged by local kings and rival institutions. During the Investiture Controversy, Emperor Henry IV used the authority of the crown to demand control over local church appointments, famously rejecting the Pope, whom he called a “false monk.” The resulting rebellion was a show of local power challenging a supranational authority.
AliExpress’s Supranational Marketplace
In 2010, AliExpress launched an international retail platform connecting buyers directly with Chinese factories. It was built inside a structural gap: the de minimis exemption, a customs rule that waived import duties on low-value parcels. By pricing below that threshold, AliExpress sold goods in more than 200 countries without paying local taxes. When local powers saw how AliExpress outpaced their own retail, they moved to close the gap. The resulting laws and regulations were a show of local power, challenging a supranational marketplace.
The Roman Crown
Electronic displays, brass, acrylic, wood
30x30x45 cm
2026
© dirkes.studio