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.

[De Villo Sloan]

Thanks Catherine Petre, it's always interesting to see what you like. This fake Schwitters mail-art is very special - from what little I know, it appears Frieder Speck was striving for historical accuracy here and achieved it.