"Turn me on, Grigster" - Hidden messages in mail art

[De Villo Sloan]

(Update September 24, 2010 - As a result of my investigation, I have concluded Grigori Antonin has not left IUOMA as we have been led to believe. He is here among us. He has just assumed another identity.)

I have studied Grigori Antonin's mail art and found evidence that his disappearance was planned and is an elaborate hoax

Grigori Antonin's back is to the camera while the Ray Johnsons are facing the camera. This is a reference to Grigori's death. (Outtakes from the photo sessions show many different positions, most of which feature Grigori facing the camera.)

In "Your Mother Should Know Ray Johnson" portion of the mail art, Grigori Antonin is wearing a black carnation. The monkeys are all wearing red ones.

Grigori Antonin is pictured without shoes, a sign of death.

A hand is over Grigori Antonin’s head on the mail art. This is an Eastern religion's way of symbolizing evil or death.

There's a crack running through the word "Grigori," and a skull barely visible to the right.

Grigori Antonin is dressed as a monkey. The monkey, in Minnesota, is a symbol of copyright violation. His arms

are spread wide, as in a crucifixion.

Ray Johnson "points" to the lyric "Wednesday morning at five o' clock," the day and time of the crash. Read across that line from left to right and you receive several clues in a row: "You're on your own, you're in the street."

"Grigori Antonin" is wearing a patch which says "OPD." This is Canadian for "Officially Pronounced Dead." (All four Ray Johnsons had received this patch, which actually reads "OPP" and stands for "Vancouver Provincial Police.")

Grigori Antonin is barefoot, which is how corpses are buried. John, in white, represents Fluxus, Jackson Pollock, in denim, represents the gravedigger, Mudhead, all in black, represents the pallbearer.

The monkey is one of the big enigmas of the Grigori Antonin conspiracy. The big question is 'Is the monkey Grigori or Ray?' Many people have speculated that Grigori is the monkey, undoubtedly because Ray seems to confirm this in the mail art 'I'm not the f____g Monkey'. Add to this the title of Ray’s 'I Am the Bunny'. But which animal is Grigori? Does the bunny character have anything worth noting? Well, only the gaping hole in its chest. Is this showing that Grigori has no heart and soul?

There's a rather interesting little anomaly on the original Australian version of the mail art. There appears to be a rather promiment blood-stain splattered on the road just to the right of Jackson Pollock. A reference to a rather gory road accident?

Look closely at the car above. If you look closely at the seating area it looks like the side-profile of Grigori Antonin. He also seems to be holding something up to his left (your right) ear, almost like a telephone. Perhaps his face is shown in the driving area to symbolise him now living in a car?

This whole mail art is very dark and full of mystery. However, the big clue in this mail art can be found when the line is reversed. Played backwards we get the message "He said 'get me out!'. Monkey is what is. Monkey is Hare Krishna it seems. Grigori is naughty". 'Get me out' is what Grigori was screaming, and could the Hare Krishna reference be telling us that Grigori is now with the Ray? What a monkey boy!This whole mail art is very full of However, the big clue in this mail art can be found when the line is reversed. Played backwards we get the message "He said 'get me out!'. Ray is what is. Bunny is Hare Krishna it seems. Monkey is naughty". 'Get me out' is what Grigori was screaming as he was trapped in Hare Krishna reference telling us that God. What a naughty boy!

[De Villo Sloan]

"Always know sometimes think it's me, but you know I know and it's a dream.
I think I know I mean, ah yes, but it's all wrong.
That is I think I disagree."

[cheryl penn]

P.S. Yes - got comment - cant wait for your views - and your mail art! as I have said until it has turned a murky grey shade of muddy pale THE WAITING IS KILLING!

[cheryl penn]

Living is hard with eyes open
Misunderstanding all you see....

[Elaine B(atgirl)]

Devillo is the EggMan, Grigori is the Walrus. Koo-koo-ka-choo

[De Villo Sloan]

Fluxus Angie Cope's request is being processed.

In the meantime, more evidence:

"The man in the crowd with multi-colored mirrors on his hobnail boots
Lying with his eyes while his hands are busy working overtime
A soap impression of his wife which he ate and donated to the National Trust."

From the Ray Johnson's famous "Blank" mail art series indicating John Lennon was at the scene of the accident.

[De Villo Sloan]

Hi Marie too, I meant to say my grasp of reality is tennuous (spg?). Your responses are disorienting but welcome, of course.

[De Villo Sloan]

Hi Cheryl, this is referencing the "Paul is dead" hoax and the Beatles. Right? It's firmly part of popcult here in the US. There are supposed to be all kinds of "clues" on old Beatle recordings and album covers. I just took them - took out Paul McCartney - and put in GA. Since I have a tennuous hold on really - the responses disorient me. My favorite is the Abbey Road cover with John as Fluxus, etc. More important - you received my message about your mail art? Totally, completely bravo. I hope we'll be talking, especially when I post it.

[Marie Wintzer]

And what a great analysis btw!!!

[Marie Wintzer]

I think he's laughing out loud right now.

[cheryl penn]

WOW! He should be amazed at this careful and succinct analysis! As I said to you - perhaps he is in the process of creating an alter ego.