What is mail art? The history and contemporary appeal of art spread through the mail
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What is Mail Art?
Mail Art is an art form in which works are sent and received via mail. Envelopes, postcards, postage stamps, and other items all become artworks, and the act of sending the work itself is considered part of the art .
It is a highly open, network-based art form that is not for commercial purposes, but where artists and the general public can freely exchange expression.
The history of mail art and its representative artists
Ray Johnson
He is considered the founder of mail art. In 1962, he established the New York Correspondence School and elevated the mail-based communication between artists to the pinnacle of art.
Shozo Shimamoto (Japan)
He was a central figure in the Gutai Art Association, and began practicing mail art in the 1950s, including sending out his journal.
On Kawara
In his "I GOT UP" series, he sends postcards indicating the time he wakes up each morning to people around the world, and has been acclaimed as a work of conceptual art.
Characteristics and Philosophy of Mail Art
| Features | Commentary |
|---|---|
| 📮 Postal Service as a Medium | The envelope, stamp, address, and postmark are all part of the work. |
| 🤝 Anyone can participate | No specialized art education necessary |
| 🏛 Freedom outside the system | Developed independently of museums and galleries |
| 🌐 International Network | Connecting with artists around the world through mail |
The relevance of mail art today
Even with the rise of digital art such as social media and NFTs, mail art is being reevaluated as a form of expression that emphasizes "material connections."
For example, at the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale in Niigata Prefecture, the "World Mail Art Project" was held, in which thousands of works were mailed from both within Japan and overseas.
What are the mail art works handled by ART&DAY?
ART&DAY offers the following mail art-inspired works:
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Matthew Rose
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Laurece GILPT
Summary | Another form of art: delivering something becomes a work of art
Mail art turns the act of "delivering" a work of art into an artwork in itself, rather than merely "exhibiting" it.
Reaching someone, connecting with strangers. Perhaps that is the value of art that is needed especially in the modern age.
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