Trash & Pass Certified Fake by Not Hi Ng (San Pablo, California, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art by IUOMA member Not Hi Ng (San Pablo, California, USA)

November 6, 2014 - First, deepest thanks to friend and correspondent Not Hi Ng for returning the Trash & Pass that was circulating as part of (as well as without) the DKULTNY Trashpo Fanzine last summer.

Not Hi Ng, an esteemed member of the Order of the Tangerine Mink, added the “FAKE” to the piece and the stamp of the venerable Institute of Art Agnosticism. And this is precisely where things become a little less clear than an azure sky in summer. Not Hi Ng, I am convinced, does nothing (no pun intended) without deep contemplation and consideration of – as Dr. Leary once said – “the intersection of all possible realities.”

I am left to ponder: “What is ‘FAKE’ ?” The premise of the a&p? The designation of the people? The fact the a&p is an outright theft from European mail-art that was circulating at the time? A reference to all the fakes and deceptions associated with Trashpo? Perhaps it is a combination of these or something that has not yet occurred to us but has already crystallized in a micro-second in the great mind of Not Hi Ng.

And, of course, the legendary stamp:

Close up:

Always a pleasure to receive mail from Not Hi Ng! And make sure to visit the Institute of Art Agnosticism; it will change your life. And don’t miss Not Hi Ng’s nail gun poetry (nail-art as opposed to Rebecca Guyver's sail-art, although they are likely connected on some level):

http://artagnostics.com/

[De Villo Sloan]

Must have been part of the Cow-nter Culture, Martha.

Someone complained yesterday on the MinXus-Lynxus blog - concerning this t&p - that they had seen too many of these cows circulating in the network over time. I like them. They're very graze-ful.

I wish I had saved the one where E - Ambassador of Utopia made me the cow's butt.

[Mail Art Martha]

It was years and years ago, DVS, and I also wish I had kept copies. Lots of names there that now I do not see anymore. I wonder why always a cow, sacred cows reference perhaps?

May your cattle always find fresh pastures!

[De Villo Sloan]

You probably do, Martha. That cow was circulating a few months ago with endless different combinations of names. I wish I had saved them.

Trashpo is recycling, so I steered it (pun intended) in a new direction with the t&p.

[Mail Art Martha]

Ahhh! I thought I recognized it...

[De Villo Sloan]

[De Villo Sloan]

The sacred Trashpo cow was stolen from this piece by E-Ambassador of Utopia:

[De Villo Sloan]

Thanks, Martha and anyone who is moving the Trash & Pass along.

"All is Fake" echoes or could be an alternate translation from Ecclesiastes as well. ("All is vanity.")

Now I'm trying to write a response to Richard Canard concerning his contention Not Hi Ng (Nothing for the folks at home) is fake or a fake person. It has created yet another paradox. There are on the surface so many possible interpretations to Not's parable that it has made a small stir.

In this case I agree to follow the intended message as it takes us toward an understanding of art agnosticism, which I admire too.

And leads me, like John Lennon, to conclude: Not Hi Ng is real. ("Strawberry Fields Forever")

[Mail Art Martha]

Superb idea or perhaps movement, art agnosticism, and the motto is perfect. As the First Zen patriach said: 'All is Fake'.

i sent my cow to warmer pastures, after having defaced it a bit, to Greece where Katerina is looking after it. i think she must have sent it on its way by now, I hope it will eventually return to you, DVS, with many a tail to tell.

[De Villo Sloan]

You're a sight for sore eyes, Not Hi Ng. I knew there was a point to the minimal parable. Thanks. Now it has to be explained to Richard Canard.

[Not Hi Ng]

Thanks for blogging this DVS. The one word which strikes the most fear in the hearts of the market driven art world of dealers, critics and curators is FAKE. But everything is fake, only Nothing can not be faked.