> contents / Marcel Herms -the Netherlands / interview by Sztuka Fabryka (2000) /

1. How and when did you become involved in Mail-Art?

There used to be a music magazine called Vinyl. Through this magazine I got familiar with the so-called 'tape circuit'. People recorded their own 'industrial' music at home and I started to collect those tapes. Because some of these 'home tapers' were also active in the Mail-Art network, I received flyers about Mail-Art projects. Slowly I started participating. After visiting a imposing collection of Mail-Art which belonged to Guy Bleus in the PTT museum in The Hague I started to get more serious.

I did my first mail-art in 1982. E. Seifried in Germany had made flyers to put your fingerprints on. I filled up the 5 white spaces with a small collage of 'found objects'. In return I received a handmade postcard.

2. Can you give us a short C.V. of your Mail-Art activities from the beginning till now?

I did participate in a lot of mail-art projects and I did some projects myself too:

1995 Here To Go: I sent people a text from William S. Burroughs and asked them for their visual reaction. Afterward there was an exhibition in a stamp store in the city of Deventer. The participants received a b/w copied booklet with one handmade page, illustrated with some collected works of Mail-Art and more Burroughs.

1996: Deventer, city of books and printing For all participants a booklet printed by KNUST. Partly in color and with stamps. A special stamp was designed for this project. Exhibition in town hall.

1989 Eldorado: For all participants a photocopied booklet. Partly in color and with stamps. A special stamp was designed for this project. Exhibition in theatre.

1996 - 2000: Junky: I sent people a page of William S. Burroughs's novel "Junky" and asked them to alter it and send it back. All the returned pages will be bound to an artist-book version of Junky. I did sent a booklet to all participants.

3. What are your specific activities within Mail-Art?

Always different: drawings, paintings, collages, stamps, linoleum print, etching, print, handmade booklets. Sometimes the work is in the envelop, or I make it on the envelop or as a postcard. Something else, what I do enjoy, are the so called 'co operations'. I send someone a half finished drawing and the receiver completes it. The results can be fascinating.

4. What happens with the Mail-Art you receive? Do you have a Mail-Art archive?

I keep almost everything I receive. In plastic maps in alphabetical order by country en mail-artist (name). Things that don't fit in a plastic A4-size map are in a chest of drawers (the big things) and on a shelf (the 3 dimensional things). Some works I framed and are hanging on my wall.

Marcel Herms interviewed by Zena Zero: http://home.planet.nl/^~tineds/
Zena Zero - Dilgtweg 26 - 9751 NH Haren - the Netherlands
e-mail: kenzo@wxs.nl

1. What inspires you to participate in projects?

Mostly the subject. I only participate if the subject inspires me. Sometimes it happens that I know the person who organizes the project and so I take part because of our friendship even if I do not really like the subject. Any way, I always try to make the most of it. So not only the subject but also the person can be a reason to participate.

2. Do you have negative experiences?

Yes, projects you don't hear from anymore while you did your best to make something. Or when the documentation only exists of a name-list and nothing more. Even with limited financial resources, there are more creative possibilities. Some people seem to send just anything, only to get the documentation. Black/white copies you must have seen these too: some people seem to have a drawer full. They sent it to every project - in spite of the subject.

3. Are you using the same technique/media every time or is it different?

Always different: drawings, paintings, collages, stamps, linoleum print, etching, print, handmade booklets. Sometimes the work is in the envelop, or I make it on the envelop or as a postcard. Something else, what I do enjoy, are the so called 'co operations'. I send someone a half finished drawing and the receiver completes it. The results can be fascinating.