RECEIVED: Mail-Art from Kurt Schwitters (FAKE) by Frieder Speck (Munchen, Germany)

[De Villo Sloan]

Fake Kurt Schwitters mail-art by IUOMA member Frieder Speck (Munchen, Germany)

 

July 12, 2011 - I expect the fake John Bennett grocery lists. I expect the fake Diane Keys Chunk-O-Skunks. I expect fake Grigori Antonin postcards. I did not expect to receive mail-art from collage-hero Kurt Schwitters - and also my first mail-art from a dead person (because Grigori's was fake).  Frieder included a note on the reverse side:

 

 

Well, that wordplay is greatly appreciated and interesting. Also included is what I believe is a fake note from Kurt Schwitters; it's hard to read in person and not much improved with a scan. This is to be expected because it is meant to be antique, and the retro quality of this is impressive:

 

 

I do think this is a fantastic piece and greatly appreciate it. Kids, with this new wave of fakes circulating, yeah, it's probably best to identify your fakes as such, especially since these things are now turning up on a ebay. People there don't always know about the tradition of hoaxes in the mail-art world. Lord forbid there was a misunderstanding in the realm of commerce involving the exchange of cashpo for trashpo (and any taxation tagged on).

 

I witnessed myself the horror and embarrassment caused by the fake Ray Johnson episode in Japan last year. The carelessness of one irresponsible artist can cause measureless heartache for innocents who believe they have received mail-art from a hero and have to learn of his death several decades ago through crudity and a complete lack of sensitivity. Frieder Speck also included a photo of some wonderful asemic writing:

 

 

I am very much enjoying working with Frieder on the Asemics 16 project and look forward to many more mail-art exchanges.

[Frieder Speck]

Thanks Cheryl

[De Villo Sloan]

Thanks Cheryl - Frieder must surely be content knowing he is appreciated for more than his fakes.

[Nancy Bell Scott]

I am in awe!

[cheryl penn]

This is no fake. This is genuine Frieder Speck. And a Hi Jack.

[De Villo Sloan]

Frieder Speck is very humble. He has sent me two emails today that further explain this work. His fake Schwitters is not merely accurate... it's meticulously accurate. My German is non-existent, which leaves Frieder to struggle to express some pretty complex ideas in English. He has apparently also thought about the whole concept of the authentic vs. what we're calling fake. This is an excerpt of a message from Frieder that illuminates the work further, as people seem to like it and are curious:

 

"One thing now I see: The text on the bill is no fake Schwitters text but i rewrote it on old paper but Schwitters wrote it first  (about 1945) but I don´t know what kind of paper he used...

Don´t want to be misunderstood whats fakeschwitters and whats Schwittersschwitters. Its difficult sometimes with fake things."

 

Indeed. Thanks again, Frieder!

 

[De Villo Sloan]

Frieder - so glad you found the blog and commented. This is wonderful work. Yes, I hope we can do many more exchanges. I know from your asemic work too that you are a most gifted artist.

 

Nancy - thanks - I didn't feel competent to say anything about how accurate Frieder's fake Schwitters is. Thanks for confirming my theory - I thought it was incredibly accurate - right down to biographical references I don't know but that are clearly there.

[Nancy Bell Scott]

This is a most successful Schwitters.  In fact, I like a lot of Schwitters works but might like this one even better.  Nicely done, Frieder Speck.

[Frieder Speck]

Thanks for your friendly blog De Villo Sloan I´m happy if you like it, I decided to send Kurt Schwitters, cause you really didn`t want any money so I couldn`t send you money of the fake republic of Germany. But Schwitters are very expensive maybe they don`t look like that, but if you would maybe change your mind, the next time I send you some Bucks, box or Fluxbox?

 

 

[cheryl penn]

I think Frieders work is great - I'm going to Hi - Jack your blog late with my latest acquisition if thats ok! Its a   GENUINE Frieder Speck :-) X

[De Villo Sloan]

Yes Catherine, that is well said in English. Frieder Speck thought through the work carefully. Frieder and I had a conversation about fake currency (money) before he sent me this. We see many examples of Fluxus bucks (an imaginary currency) in mail-art. He was going to do some fake currency - I think as a commentary of economic conditions. But he must have decided on Kurt Schwitters instead. He does capture the Schwitters aesthetic, as far as I know.