XVII Congress of the Brazilian Studies Association

Transgressions in Mail Art: A Transhistorical Approach

• In Event: Towards a Transartistic Commons in Brazil

Abstract

In this presentation we will present our research project Transgressoras, focusing specifically on Brazilian women artists involved in Mail Art both historically and today. During the 1970s, at the height of the dictatorship, the Mail Art network allowed artists to circulate subversive messages by using the postal system. While the male artists in this international postal network have been increasingly well-documented, the roles of women artists are often absent from existing accounts. In this presentation, we explore the complexities and stakes of gender in mail art communiqués. We will also attend to the perspectives and work of a younger generation of artists who explore mail, messages, and long-distance communication. This intergenerational, transtemporal approach brings to the fore overlooked historical precedents to enhance our perspective on central issues of today’s media landscape.

Authors

• Elena Shtromberg, University of Utah

• Zanna Gilbert, Getty