POST OBJECT - A NEW MAIL ART PROJECT

[Aner Govrin]

   

 

Post Object: The Manifest

Post Object is an anti-consumerism mail art project intended to create a different view of objects and of ourselves. It was created by Aner Govrin a psychoanalyst, philosopher, and collector from Tel-Aviv.  Other members are from Germany, Canada, Italy, Argentina, and Israel

We all buy products from internet websites - clothes, watches, accessories, toys, cosmetics, gadgets - yet the desire for them quickly evaporates. Immediately after the click or receipt of the item the need vanishes and something that was emotionally charged ceases to arouse the recipient’s interest. The product is stowed away in some corner of the house without having left any impression. People have no interest in the special qualities of the product nor in the people who manufactured it.

Are people themselves becoming unremarkable like the items they buy?  Have people lost interest in themselves?  In the lives of others? In art?

 

We are looking for people who would enjoy playing shipping games.

Post object has two components –  text and object (item). The text is in some creative way connected to the object.

Post object engages between the imagined and the real. The period that elapses between reading the text and receipt of the object in the post enables a space in the psyche to be formed in which the object can be imagined and desired before it becomes the property of the addressee. The object is formed in the addressee’s psyche a long time before he or she gets it.

But is the imagined object identical to the real object?

Post object asks: What will happen to the desire when it encounters the real object?[1]

This is how it goes: We will send you a personal letter with a text linked to the item. If the described item arouses your interest you can ask for it. We have a large collection of items from all corners of the world among them items connected to art, literature, history , religion, childhood, folklore, jewelry, tools etc. Some of the items were found in the streets, others were collected, yet others were handed by different people from different countries. 

If you like the item send us a letter in reply in which you inform us that you are interested  in the article together with your postal address. We will try and send you the item concerned.[2]

 

 

Items are sent to people free of charge and money is not exchanged between the parties at any stage.

 

We ask you to fulfill three obligations.

 

To keep the item and, in the event that you are not interested, to return it to us.

To send us a letter confirming receipt of the item and which describes your impression of it and your feelings towards it.

To make an effort to send an item of some sort to another person of your choice, in the same way, and with the same terms and conditions. 

To become a Post Object artist, you need to love people, to have a warm interest in objects and to imagine.   

 Our address is : P.O. Box 3039  Tel Aviv, Israel  6433217

Email: [e-mail]

 

 

 

 

[1] In certain cases for the sake of documentation we choose two items for the same text. We expect it will create a fantasy also for the item that was not sent.

[2]  It’s possible that we will surprise you with  a different object  that has some connection to the item you we waiting for.

[Aner Govrin]

Dear Robin

Have you received my letter?

With Best Regards

Aner Govrin (Post Object)

Tel Aviv

[Aner Govrin]

Hi Robin

Would you like Post Object to send you a text followed by a surprising object?

If yes please send e your email and current postal address

Smiles from Tel Aviv

Aner Govrin