In reinventing the post stamp the artists focused on the actual mechanism behind the stamp.

To top it all the concept of the new reinvented post stamp must be non functional. But why would we tend to remake something that originally functions in such a way that its concept is annihilated? In this case we are talking about communication and its most widespread tariff, the stamp.

There are several reasons of wanting to make a stamp non-functional both internally and externally.

The result of any is that the letter will not arrive to its destination.

Does that interest us, or not?

we don't really want to communicate (we are just talking to ourselves)
we can not communicate (we do not know the way people live together)
the system stops us from communicating anyway (too expensive, too slow, barriers of any kind

a post stamp is very small but you can not ignore it.
it is an artwork, made by artists
it is a carrier of culture, and useful in the same time (like the little sculpture-toys of the ancient times that we now see at the museums)
Because people collect them

we live in different systems(different languages, etc)
we prefer direct (face to face) communication
we doubt about what we are and what we have to say (so better the letter never to reach its destination)
communication is a game with its own rules and it's fun to break any rules sometimes and for a change

NiceProgram

presents

re-inventing the post stamp

Introduction

Development through invention.

In the light of the universal Western master-narrative of modernisation, the re-invention of the post stamp seems only sustainable in our own standard knowledge of technological development. With current insights into the complex dynamics of on going economics and informational globalisation the re-invention of the post stamp would normally speaking approach the multifaceted methodological prospect of developing intentions in deploying persuasive forces of globalisation (the media, dollarisation, technology, consumerism) to open innovative avenues to successful development. But by the re-invention of the post stamp artists have aimed to resist the persuasive forces by being more conscious of individual and collective identities. The project strives towards the ideal that technological progress would not mean an end of local cultures and endogenous knowledge systems but rather their reinforcement and emancipation. NiceProgram in the long run seeks to participate in the mediation between the universal and culture-specific claims on knowledge, beauty and human fulfilment.

In this capitalistic rat race we have come to know and love, we have come to pride ourselves being able to make things and be able to throw them out and make more. Some might call it wasteful, perhaps frivolous, call it what you will. but times they are a changin’ recycling is the next big thing? Instead of taking garbage and propelling it onto some deserted island, why not make it the new currency for postage. The bigger your letter or package the more garbage you can attach.

Now days with the Mad Cows Disease, and Foot & Mouth, would you stick your tongue out to lick the bone meal glue on a post stamp?Employees at Locka Lock certainly would not, and want to protect you and your family against the horror of getting awful diseases though licking diseased animal bone glue. Locka Lock stamps are carefully packaged to carry their own liquid glue. Just snip open the sachet, squeeze the glue out and presto. No unsavoury aftertaste when you walk to the post-box to post your letter.

K_Van: loca lock

I saw your postage stamp project (ages ago though) and was reminded of this film that I once saw on telly. It was a crappy tv-film but nevertheless, the idea was nice. These Canadian children find a letter with a stamp on it, and it turns out that they can jump into the stamp (picture of a Mountie on horseback) and when the letter gets sent, they travel the world. Brilliant idea. Kiddies end up in China (which looks remarkably like Canada) and Australia (which also looks remarkably like Canada).

Life in rural post offices could be stress full and heartbreaking when the post master realises she/he has come to the last of the stamps. But that could be a thing of the past. With the photocopy post-stamps you could make your own stock of stamps. Simply place the stamp sheet on the photocopy machine and with in seconds the post office is replenished with stamps. Also handy at home and in the office.

K_Van: photocopy

As e-mail becomes all pervasive, fewer and fewer items will need to be posted through the mail.These items will be parcels, and therefore the postage stamp will metamorphosize into sheets of wrapping paper.The sheets of wrapping paper will bear the imprint of the postal service of the country of origin; but may occasionally be specially commissioned from exciting artists practising in that country. They will make both the paper and any design thereon.And they will become collectors’ items

Post Stamps for Internal use by Little Communities

Useful communities where everybody has more or less the same name and surname.The post office is also the photo shop of the community.The keeper of this shop holds a stock of passport photos of the inhabitants. To send a card, or a message-letter you have to stick the photo of the receiver on the envelope; eventually your photo will appear at the place of the sender.The post-office-photo-shop is consequently the archive of the village-town. Every term of one or two years, the photo list is refreshed to keep up with the flow of life.

The postman-photographer-archive clerk is a public servant highly respected and welcome. His or her function is actually the set up and the continuation of a net of relations, as he/she knows and is involved with everybody.The postman-photographer-archive-network clerk and his/her office is paid by the community for the provided services. Therefore post-stamps are given for free, and likewise for all kinds of community certificates.

Post for the Blind

Inspired by the pre-paid long distance calling card, this ‘stamp’can be purchased in the same form. It is designed specially for the blind. The card is used in the same way a calling card is used. The buyer of the card simply slides it in to a phone and at the prompt delivers a voice letter into a micro chip. When finished they address the card like an envelope, and unlike any other postit is paid for when the card is bought. The recipient of the ‘letter’slides it into their phone to listen to their mail.This idea was also inspired by my Grandmother who is blind. She loves to receive mail, but often doesn’t because of her handicap. This way not only can she receive mail, but hear the voices of her loved ones as well.

Don’t forget to seal the pocket as well as the envelope before sending.
There are several styles of envelopes for use: the inside-side pocket, the outside pocket, and the sophisticate, for use only when having prebaught stamps.The stamps can be bought in sheets
of whole stamps and half stamps.

The half stamps are strictly for postcard usage. Both can be baught in different styles: generic and decorative.
Of course the decorative stamps cost a wee bit more, but are nice to send to loved ones. Generic stamps are typically for business and student use. The post randomly collects stamps, especially when they begin to look worn out.

Sofia Kapnissi: Fools & Kings

Department of Post & Stamps

serie 2001: Fools & Kings 80 Cents

Notes for interested parties:

-Who wishes to buy the post-stamp of the Fools & Kings series is expected to fill in the relevant application form. The forms will be forwarded to the maker of the series who will decide who can buy the stamp after all.

-Motivation is expected to focus mainly on the reason why one would be satisfied to obtain only a fragment of a unity even if that fragment is somewhat useful. Furthermore, positive and negative reasons for decomposing an art work will be thoroughly considered.

-Applications should be filled in during the
period of the project only.

-Applicants should not have any other expectations apart from their actual involvement in the procedure. However they will be informed about the outcome of the project after its completion.

Department of

post & Stamps

serie 2001: Fools & Kings 80 Cents

Application form

Name: ___________________

Surname: _________________

male o female o

occupation:________________

Nationality:________________

Address: _________________

County: __________________

tel. Number:_______________

e-mail: ___________________

___________________________________

I would like to buy the amount of___post-stamp(s) of the serie fools & kings.I am going to use the stamps for: ________________________________________

Please motivate your reasons why you fell that it is essential to fragmentize ‘fools & kings: _______________________________________

Other particulars important to the evaluation of your application: _______________________________________

Signature:

Date:

Participation

James Zingarelli: ground flight

Sofia Kapnissi: fools & kings

K_Van: 3D, loca lock, photocopy

Noelle McCloy: pocket envelope stamp

Aglika Borissova: deliverable post stamp

Amber Young, Kevin Ryan: and death shall have no dominion

Emma Stewart-Liberty: metamorphosize

Edward Stubbs: post stamps for internal use by little communities

John, Isaac, Nate

Joanna Miller: stamp on the big role

Meaghan Harrison: post for the blind

A. van den Beukel: I saw your postage stamp project

post stamp

Exhibition:

Re inventing the post stamp