astorartlab

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About the Mail/Post Art

How Did Mail Art Develop into a Global Art Movement?

Left: Marcel Duchamp – Rendezvous of Sunday, February 6, 1916 (Rendez-vous du Dimanche 6 Février 1916) / Right: Kurt Schwitters – Opened by Customs, 1937-8. Paper collage, oil and pencil on paper. © DACS, 2002. The Dada artist used postal elements like postcards and rubber stamps in his paper collages

In fact, the artworks had seen travelling through envelopes all the time, from Van Gogh’s drawings of painting ideas sent to his brother Theo to Egon Schiele’s letters from his short stay in Vienna, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that someone finally decided to give this creative process some proper credit and proclaim it a true artistic movement.

                                                                                   What is Post Art?

Mail Art envelope from H.R. Fricker, 1990

According to Angie Kordic (2016), to describe the phenomenon of Post or Mail art, also known as Correspondence art or Postal art, one could say that it represents any form of the arts created meant to be sent through postage service, or better yet: works that are only big enough to be put in envelopes and posted away. This movement was particular in many aspects, perceived as a kind of activity shared by many people – or anyone interested – around the world. As such, it diverged from the structures of the commercial art market and traditional venues and institutions such as galleries and museums; rather, it was meant to be an aesthetical communication and interaction with a few guiding rules. 

Ray Johnson’s invitation to the first mail art show of the New York Correspondence School at the Whitney Museum, 1970

Examples of Artistamps by artist Fraenz

Postcard

Apart from envelope and paper, another and perhaps the most popular form of mail art has to be the postcards. There is no packaging, just a piece of surface waiting to be altered, edited and designed. Postcards are sent quickly and easily, and interestingly enough even the postage costs less than regular envelopes, which makes it even more accessible and wanted by the correspondence artists. Those interested in sending postcards can join Post Secret, a project that’s been running since 2005 that invites the participants to send an anonymous postcard with a secret written on it, which is then published online and in one of their many books.

An example of an art postcard from Post Secret

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My Astronaut Rubber Stamp

Finally got my Rubber Stamp!!! So excited about it, it’s very pretty!

I think it also is a part of my final work...(hope so)

I designed it by myself, 

Just super love the astronaut also I am a big fan of NASA since I was a little child!

I also made an astronaut tattoo in my arm. So I think this image would be perfect for my rubber stamp.

It only spent 2 days and then I received the email from 

Wellington Rubber Stamp.

Although it was really expensive...Almost $90! I just super love it!

I so regret I haven’t done it early that I can print them on my postcards...

They’re all on the way now...

Nevermind, I guess I understand the art of mail. 

Bryce told me that I am a vintage person, yeah, I admitted it LOL 

I was born in 1995, this year I am already 23 years old. (so many people told me that they don’t think I am already 23 from my face...hahaha)

LOVE POSTCARD, STAMPS, POSTMARK & MAIL ART! THAT’S ME!

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The Date of Birth - Final Works

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Finally, they’re on the way now

Okay, let’s do the last step of my final project!!

Yesterday, I went to the NZ Post office to send all my postcards.

I was so excited to send my postcards to my friends, they’re all really looking forward to receiving it. I like this project so so much, also I’m a little bit proud of myself because they all made by myself LOL!!

Each pack have 5 stamps, totally 20 stamps. 

Honestly, the stamps are really expensive!!!

And then, I needed to stick the stamps one by one on my postcards...

Also, the staff gave me 20 “international” stickers, just for international mail.

Okay, I nearly there!!!

Next, It’s time to send them all in the right mailbox!

There’re two kind mailboxes in New Zealand, the red one is “Standard”, for the local mail, the blue one is “International”, for the international mail. Obviously, I need to put all my postcards into the blue mailbox!

Say goodbye to my postcards!

Congratulation Astor!!! You made it!!!

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The History of Postcards

A postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard intended for writing and mailing without an envelope. Shapes other than rectangular may also be used. There are novelty exceptions, such as wood postcards, made of thin wood, and copper postcards sold in the Copper Cou try of the U.S. state of Michigan, and coconut "postcards" from tropical islands.

Example of a court card, postmarked 1899, showing Robert Burns and his cottage and monument in Ayr

The early history of postcards

The claimed first printed picture postcard.

Austrian postcard from 1901.

Cards with messages had been sporadically created and posted by individuals since the beginning of postal services. The earliest known picture postcard was a hand-painted design on the card, posted in Fulham in London by the writer Theodore Hook to himself in 1840, and bearing a penny black stamp. He probably created and posted the card to himself as a practical joke on the postal service, since the image is a caricature of workers in the post office. In 2002 the postcard sold for a record £31,750.

In the United States, the custom of sending through the mail, at letter rate, a picture or blank card stock that held a message, began with a card postmarked in December 1848 containing printed advertising. The first commercially produced card was created in 1861 by John P. Charlton of Philadelphia, who patented a postal card, and sold the rights to Hymen Lipman, whose postcards, complete with a decorated border, were labelled "Lipman's postal card". These cards had no images.

In Britain, postcards without images were issued by the Post Office in 1870 and were printed with a stamp as part of the design, which was included in the price of purchase. These cards came in two sizes. The larger size was found to be slightly too large for ease of handling and was soon withdrawn in favour of cards 13mm (½ inch) shorter. The first known printed picture postcard, with an image on one side, was created in France in 1870 at Camp Conlie by Léon Besnardeau (1829–1914). Conlie was a training camp for soldiers in the Franco-Prussian war. The cards had a lithographed design printed on them containing emblematic images of piles of armaments on either side of a scroll topped by the arms of the Duchy of Brittany and the inscription "War of 1870. Camp Conlie. Souvenir of the National Defence. Army of Brittany". While these are certainly the first known picture postcards, there was no space for stamps and no evidence that they were ever posted without envelopes

Early US postcards

A 1908 postcard of a postcard factory in Chicago, which claims to be 'The largest building in America devoted exclusively to the manufacture of Post Cards'

Back of the above 1905 card

Japan

Postcard by Takehisa Yumeji, 1912

Russia

Standard stamped postcard Russia

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Week 11 - continue doing my finals...

Okay, after collecting the address from my friends, I wrote them down in a paper and transfer their date of birth into roman letters.\

There are total 20 people in my list, 16 people are living in China, two people are living in Australia, one in Germany and the other one in Canada.

And also I made a map, to see the routine that how the postcards send to my friends.

the World Map:

Then, I summarise the routine again in google map, just want to make it more clearly! So basically, the postcards which will send to China, they will all arrive at Baiyun airport in Guangzhou in Guangdong province, no matter where they live because they are all living in the Guangdong province in China. It’s like:

After they arrived at Guangzhou city, the postman will send them everywhere.

The rest of them will be sent to the other different countries.

1. Canada

2. Germany

3. Australia

Okay, after finished the map, I need to start to design my postcards in Indesign.

The reason why I use 4 colours; navy blue, white, black and wine red is because I want to make the postcards look more colourful and interesting. Not just white and black, feel so boring~ Also, I used the Roman letter to mix with the numbers, just want to look like have more senses of design.

After I finished the design of the postcards, I went to Gordan Harris to buy the special paper boards for the postcards. I also spent my Sunday to cut them into A3 size at home. (Sorry I forgot to take the photos of this step..)

I want to print them out to see how them looks like. And I went to the library after Monday class, to tried to print them out.

Just want to make sure they all correct, without mistakes in numbers, colours.

And that’s the test print on the paperboard.

Okay, I think everything’s gonna be alright, let’s do it!!

I cut them all one by one all by myself LOL! That’s huge works~

and..... Congratulation!!! My postcards all came out!!!!!

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Week 10 - Final works

I chose On Kawara for my final works’ artist model. 

I do really really love his works - Date Printing. When I saw this works, I just fall in love with it. I love the numbers and the design with the date, so simple but also makes people feel amazing with it.

On Kawara.

On Kawara (河原 温 Kawara On, December 24, 1932 – July 10, 2014) was a Japanese conceptual artist who lived in New York city from 1965. He took part in many solo and group exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale in 1976.

He is a quiet mystery artist, nearly never show up his face in the public place.

Date Printings

On Kawara, canvases from the 'Today Series' (1966 - 2014)

So, the name of my final work called “Date of Birth Postcards”.

Since I was a child, I already started to send the postcards back and forth to my friends, family members, especially my mom. I was greatly influenced by my mom a lot. She has so so many postcards from almost all over the world, from her university times so I can see various beautiful stamps and postmarks from many different countries. I started to follow my mom, tried to send the postcards to many different people, and until now when I go to a foreign country, I will send many different postcards to my friends and myself, just want to keep the memory.

Haraki is the topic of the Art lab, means “celebration”, I think everyone’s date of birth is their own celebration, so I decided to make this series postcard of my friends’ date of birth.

I want to choose 20 friends, and send them the postcards with their date of birth.

First, I wrote a post in my social media - Wechat, which is a popular chat app in China. 

P.S. sorry the Wechat translate was SUCKS! I was writing that “ Is anyone can write down your date of birth? Maybe you will receive a gift tho!”

Then, I received lots of date of birth from my friends.

I collected all the date of birth from my friends and started to choose them randomly.

Finally, 20 luck people have appeared!!

And then, I wrote another post in Wechat moment, to ask for their address.

[astorartlab]

Week 9.2

9th Artist - Janet Lilo

On Friday, we went to the Te Papa museum to have a class in it.

We had a good look at Janet Lilo’s artworks - Top 16 and SHARE THE LOVE.

She is a great artist from New Zealand.

“Top 16”

Credit: Te Papa / https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/visit/exhibitions/toi-art/janet-lilo-top16

Top 16 was based on social networking websites, like Bebo, Facebook, and Youtube. Janet has begun to research this work for at least 10 years.

“SHARE THE LOVE”

That’s really awesome about her artworks since when I saw the big sign of “Share The Love”, make me feel the love of it.

My work:

Since high school times, I already love photography. Last year I studied at Massey Palmerston North campus and I lived in it. Then I bought a polaroid and took a few shots of it, just want to record my boring life in Palmerston North.

10th artist - Patrick Pound

After the Te Papa, we went to the city gallery to watch Patrick Pound’s artworks - On Reflection.

There’s a photo world, and the photos come from all over the world. When I looked at the photos in the gallery, I was like watching someone else’s life, their memories, childhood time, best friends, family. I feel emotional with them; happy, sad, funny, annoying and so on. He is a great artist.

My works:

I took so so many photos of myself with the mirror, so of them are with my best friends, since 2016.

<Me and the Mirror>

In 2017, in a toilet of a hotel in Huizhou city of Guangdong province in China.

In 2017, Home in Palmerston North (polaroid)

2016, at my home in China.

2018, at a hotel in Sweden.

2018, at the fitting room in Kmart in Wellington.

2017, with my best friend Icy at a toilet of CGV cinema in Jiangmen city of China. (my hometown)

2018, at my home in Porirua.

2018, at a hotel called Novotel Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.

2018, with my best friend Minxian at her home in China.

2017, with Minxian at a hotel called Nathan hotel in Hong Kong.

2018, at a hotel in Stockholm

2018, at a hotel, called The Salisbury YMCA in Hong Kong.

2018, at a hotel called Santa Claus Holiday Village in Finland.

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Week 9.1

7th Artist - Mark Bradford

He is also a great artist in this century.

He likes to use materials to create and design stuff with many layers; posters, ropes, rubbish, papers and so on. When I look at his works, I feel that the colour of his works is really gorgeous, the structure of them are tight and make me feel good.

My works:

I used many papers that I found that on the campus; newspapers, ads, paper boards, the cover of A4 papers, napkins and tissues.

To use the PVA glue to stick them together, and then rip them.

These two paperboards and PVA glue were I bought in the Gordan Harris before the class begin...LOL

The paperboard that I found it in the rubbish bins in our classroom.

The tissue I took it from the toilet LOL but I can sure that it’s clean!

This is newspaper~

8th Artist - Cindy Sherman

Well,  I think she is a pretty, very cool artist in 21 century, as well.

Her photos seem like quite weird, when I look at her works, it does not that make me comfortable. However, there is no doubt that she is a unique artist.

My work:

Vacation style at home.

I was pretended that I was at the beach, the googles mean that I am ready to go swimming, the pink plastic glove can protect me away from the strong sunshine. I am in the vacation time!!! 

P.S. I know it’s weird, plz don’t laugh at me LOL

[astorartlab]

Week 8.2

Hanne Lippard

As for Hanne’s works, honestly speaking I feel like that’s quite weird...LOL

I can understand what she wants to express to people, she wants people to found the beauty of the voice. Arts all come from life.

But it does a really cool artist’s work, respect with that.

So.... my works are two Cantonese tongue twisters, it all base on I am a Cantonese hahaha.

I went to an empty space to record a video about the two Cantonese tongue twisters, with echoing.

Level 1: Text

Level 2:

Level 3:

Video: Part 1

Part 2:

6th Artist - On Kawara

He is a quiet mystery artist in this century. Never show up face in the public place, people have confused and curious with him.

Among all his excellent works, “Today series” is the most impressive.

I also love playing with numbers, I think every number have their own meaning.

My work:

1. The phone number since my first mobile:

8759033

13790335973

13828038340

13924680261

2. The meaning date:

01/05/1964 - my dad’s DOB

27/11/1968 - my mom’s DOB

12/02/2017 - the day when I came to NZ

21/03/1994 - my bf’s DOB

07/11/1994 - my ex’s DOB - -

08/11/1994 - my best friend Minxian’s DOB

31/01/1995 - my best friend Icy’s DOB

28/08/1994 - my best friend Xiaolin’s DOB

11/07/2018 - the first day with my bf

I want to make a tattoo on my left shoulder with a meaningful date

so I chose my Date of Birth

MY DOB TATTOO in Roman numerals

VII.XVI.MCMXCV

07(Month).16(Day).1995(Year)

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Week 8.1

8.1 - Martin Creed

Class notes:

(Art that helps make sense of feelings

Quite instinctual 十分本能地  unconventional 非传统地

Annoying 恼人的

 Brave(not AFRAID) - just bringing in stuff from his flat)

As for Martin, I think he is a great contemporary artist in this century.

I can feel calm, and emotional in his works, also he is a rational artist.

My works:

I want to use my Lego keychains to take some photos, to use the scale and different angles to reflect the size of the keychains can be huge. However, I think it does not very work.....

So, when I look at my napkins, I almost can see through the table by the napkins, by the really small holes in the napkins. It looks like special filters.

And then I decided to use the napkins to make something different.

P.S. you can see something different throughout the napkins.

I use the blush to draw two X in the napkins, I want to make it looks like the eyes of the human.

I also use four badges to stick in the X, hope it can make more perfect LOL

P.S. I use the wrong blush... so it looks like two really ugly X...

And then, I tried to put the napkins over my face, I wish I can see something different throughout the napkins, to see what this world looks like.

P.S. when I was testing my phone camera... LOL

Name:  XX can be your eyes.

4th Artist - Angela de la Cruz

She used the objects to make her artworks, always broke the things, like the wood shelf, it’s really special, I think. Yep, I have to admit it, artwork all comes from life. The colour of her artworks is quite amazing, red, blue, yellow and white.

My works:

Simple red and blue.

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Week7 - INDI STUDY

1. Partner’s instruction task

My work:

2. Produce your own work in response to the methods of Sol Lewitt.

IND1: Produce your own work in response to the methods of Yoko Ono. Document both resulting works and archive into your workbook/blog

Yoko Ono:

My works: