Mail art, a democratized genre that stresses a tactile sense of connection we could all use more of these days, is having quite a renaissance during the lockdown era. And now, the Danish agency Creator Projects is pushing it a step further.
Its latest initiative, M.M.S. (Much. More. Shit.), allows even the humblest collectors to buy a set of 12 works by major artists (including Tania Bruguera, Daniel Buren, Martin Creed, Katharina Grosse, Jenny Holzer, and Alicja Kwade) for just €200 ($243).
The small artworks in the limited-edition portfolio will arrive at your door in a container the size of a shoe box. The entire set is available for pre-sale starting today, February 24.
“For some years, I reflected on how the art that we see in museums and art fairs could become affordable to a broader audience,” Creator Projects’s founder and director, Simon Friese, said in a statement.
“When the pandemic hit and the world entered into lockdown, these concerns became imperative because many understood how essential it is to experience art. Suddenly, mailing artworks directly to a person’s home seemed the most effective way for art to reach people.”
The concept nods to S.M.S. (Shit. Must. Stop.), a cultish mail-art initiative conceived in 1968 by New York-based artists William N. Copley and Dimitri Petrov.
Their project came in the form of a magazine available via subscription. Over the course of 10 months, the duo turned out 6 issues with 70-some artworks, including examples by Bruce Conner, Richard Hamilton, and Man Ray.
But there were other, lesser-known artists, too—and that was the point. By design, it was an egalitarian project in which works by big names and everyday artists presented works side by side.
“I was impressed by the visionary aim of the project, to make art by renowned artists available and affordable to a broad audience,” explained Friese, whose wife introduced him to Copley and Petrov’s effort. “Truly, they realized that there was too much shit for too few people!”
Produced in an edition of 1,000, M.M.S. is expected to ship in May. And it won’t be just a 2021-specific effort: moving forward, Friese and his team plan to churn out a new portfolio annually.