Pushing the Envelope: An exhibition of mailed and correspondance art is a group show of 2D artists that use or reference archaic technology. The mailed artworks are hung throughout the UK’s National Museum of Computing (TNMOC)’s galleries between, beside or over the machines themselves. Opened November 2nd 2024 until March 30th 2025.
Title: 99g, collection of artist made publications, custom built pigeonhole cabinet, scale. 2024.
99g is a unique mail art project that embraces the constraints of the postal system, inspired by the creative ways artists and traders have historically navigated customs regulations. In particular, while sending books has become increasingly complex, a letter containing correspondence and weighing under 100g remains tax and customs-free.
33 artists have been invited by the Artist Book Cooperative (ABC) to create a book weighing no more than 99 grams, themed around ‘99g’. Their interpretation of this theme is entirely open. Artists could explore concepts related to individuals, societies, machines, ecosystems, and more. The project welcomes a wide range of expressions—be they political, apolitical, satirical, serious, playful, light or heavy.
The book collection will build during the exhibition. Each artist sends their book in a first-class envelope, adhering to their country's postal restrictions. The envelope should be no larger than 240x165mm, no thicker than 5mm, and weigh no more than 99g.
Visitors are welcomed to handle the books and check their weight on the scales provided. The final collection and its pigeonhole furniture will be donated to the museum after the show.
ABC [Artists’ Books Cooperative] is an international group of artists, publishers, and educators seeking to create, engage, and experiment with the form of the book, fostering alternative forms of distribution through collaboration. As well as working on their own practices, the cooperative works together to produce collective projects. Centered on book fairs and their online forum, ABC aims to develop a growing international network of artists.
www.abcooperative.cargo.site