1981 mail art retorspective antwerp

A fascinating topic!

The 1981 Mail Art Retrospective in Antwerp, Belgium was a significant event in the history of Mail Art, a movement that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s. Mail Art, also known as Correspondence Art, is a form of art that involves sending and receiving artworks through the postal system.

The retrospective exhibition was organized by the Antwerp-based artist and curator, Ruud Janssen, who is considered one of the pioneers of Mail Art. The exhibition showcased a selection of artworks from the 1960s and 1970s, which were sent by artists from all over the world to Ruud Janssen as part of the Mail Art network.

The exhibition featured a wide range of artworks, including:

  1. Postcards: Small, often humorous, artworks sent on postcards.
  2. Letters: Longer, more elaborate artworks sent as letters.
  3. Envelopes: Artworks created on envelopes, often with stamps, stickers, and other embellishments.
  4. Packages: Larger, more complex artworks sent in packages.
  5. Fluxus-style artworks: Experimental, interactive artworks that challenged traditional notions of art.

The retrospective included works by many prominent Mail Art artists, such as:

  1. Ray Johnson (USA): Known as the "father of Mail Art," Johnson was a pioneer of the movement.
  2. Anna Banana (USA): A prominent Mail Art artist and editor of the magazine "The Artist's Magazine."
  3. Guglielmo Achille Cavellini (Italy): A key figure in the development of Mail Art in Italy.
  4. John Held Jr. (USA): A prominent Mail Art artist and editor of the magazine "The Network."
  5. Ruud Janssen (Belgium): The curator of the retrospective and a prominent Mail Art artist himself.

The 1981 Mail Art Retrospective in Antwerp was an important event in the history of Mail Art, as it brought together a diverse range of artworks and artists from around the world. The exhibition helped to establish Mail Art as a legitimate art movement and paved the way for future generations of Mail Art artists.

Today, the legacy of Mail Art continues to inspire artists, curators, and collectors around the world. The movement's emphasis on experimentation, collaboration, and the democratization of art has made it a significant part of the broader art historical narrative.