Diane Keys Add & Pass by Ruud Janssen (Breda, Netherlands)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail art by IUOMA founder Ruud Janssen (Breda, Netherlands)

April 29, 2016 - Artist, network scholar and IUOMA founder Ruud Janssen has been very supportive of the Trashpoets and DKulters. The Trashpo “movement” in mail art evolved over several years at the IUOMA. Ruud Janssen has also created iconic Trashpo and DKult stamps that are recognized by many. You can see an example on the envelope of Ruud Janssen material I am documenting today:

Ruud Janssen’s envelopes are always spectacular, and this one is no exception. His brilliance with stamps is showcased here. Also of great interest in this mailing is the add & pass (top) destined ultimately for Diane Keys in Elgin, Illinois, USA. He departs from his usual clear and minimalist approach to experiment with the cluttered and ambiguous, sometimes even confused, “Trashpo aesthetic.”

I believe Ruud Janssen and the Trashpoets have more in common that one might at first think. Much of his work, grounded in Fluxus, is anti-art (devoid of the representation and tonality we traditionally associate with fine art), although as stated above, Ruud Janssen is generally a minimalist on a number of levels. I would say he does strive for a sense of unity. Trashpo is rooted in an anti-art stance as well, only it gives the impression of complexity by offering numerous juxtapositions. Fragmentation is used frequently. Most, but not all, Trashpo cannot be considered minimalist. So with great excitement, I look forward to seeing how this work will evolve and how DK will respond when it reaches her.

Here is a detail scan of the reverse side of the a & p aka trash & pass:

Ruud Janssen included a note:

A view of the stamp on the reverse side:

And the reverse side of the envelope that contained all this wonderful material:

Many thanks to Ruud Janssen for this and other mail art received!

[Ruud Janssen]

thanks for the lovely blog. And yes, some add and pass on's are started. I hope they arrive at their destination......

with best wishes,

Ruud Janssen