Avant garde distribution royal mail

A very specific and interesting topic!

Avant-garde distribution refers to the unconventional and innovative ways that artists, designers, and creatives have used to distribute their work, often bypassing traditional channels and challenging the status quo.

In the context of Royal Mail, avant-garde distribution might involve using the postal service in unexpected ways to create art, challenge the norms of communication, or subvert the expectations of the recipient. Here are a few examples:

1. Mail art: In the 1960s and 1970s, artists like Ray Johnson and Joseph Beuys used the postal service to create mail art, sending each other artworks, collages, and other creative materials through the mail. This movement challenged the traditional notion of art as a physical object and explored the possibilities of communication through the mail.
2. Conceptual mail: Artists like John Latham and Barbara Reise used the postal service to create conceptual artworks that explored the relationship between the sender, the recipient, and the mail itself. For example, Latham's "Mail Piece" (1966) consisted of a letter with no content, while Reise's "The Mail Piece" (1967) was a series of letters with no addresses or contents.
3. Unconventional packaging: Artists like Carsten Höller and Maurizio Cattelan have used the postal service to create innovative and often humorous packaging designs. For example, Höller's "Decision" (2015) was a series of packages containing a single decision (e.g., "to eat a sandwich") that the recipient had to make before opening the package.
4. Interactive mail: Artists like Marina Abramovic and Ulay have used the postal service to create interactive and participatory artworks. For example, Abramovic's "The Artist is Present" (2010) was a series of packages containing a simple instruction (e.g., "write a letter to yourself") that the recipient had to follow before sending the package back to the artist.

These examples illustrate how avant-garde distribution can challenge our assumptions about art, communication, and the role of the postal service in our lives. By pushing the boundaries of what is possible with mail, artists can create innovative and thought-provoking works that engage with the world in new and unexpected ways.