Horikawa Michio's Lunar-Inspired Mail Art Project Sending Stones Since 1969
On July 20, 1969, coinciding with the Apollo 11 moon landing, artist Horikawa Michio gathered stones from the Shinano River in Japan along with his art class and sent them to 11 critics and artists. This marked the beginning of his 'Mail Art by Sending Stones' initiative, which he continued through later Apollo missions. Art historian Reiko Tomii's 2022 publication highlights Horikawa's work as conceptual. Shortly after the initial mailing, he released 'Thinking on Human Travels to the Moon,' advocating for a reevaluation of humanity's role in the cosmos. The project also involved sending stones to U.S. President Richard Nixon and Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Satō in 1969. Horikawa revived the project for the 2001 'Century City' exhibition, and his 2023 show explored its relational aspects and cultural significance.
Key facts
- Horikawa Michio began 'Mail Art by Sending Stones' on July 20, 1969, coinciding with Apollo 11 moon landing
- He mailed 11 stamped, unpackaged stones from Japan's Shinano River to art critics and artists including himself
- The project continued through all Apollo missions until 1972, with stones sent during each launch
- Art historian Reiko Tomii published 'Mail Art by Sending Stones: A Reader' in 2022 with Horikawa
- Stones were sent to Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Satō and U.S. President Richard Nixon in 1969
- Horikawa resumed the project for Tate Modern's 'Century City' exhibition in London in 2001
- His 2023 exhibition 'Stones at Tokyo Biennale '70: (13 – 4) + 9 + 9 + 9' was held at Misa Shin Gallery in Tokyo
- One Apollo 13 stone was recently found in his brother's house, and Nixon's stone is stored at The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Entities
Artists
- Horikawa Michio
- Lee Ufan
- Jirō Takamatsu
- Yutaka Matsuzawa
- Martine Syms
- Bai Juyi
- Lu Guimeng
- Ursula K. Le Guin
- Neil Armstrong
Institutions
- Misa Shin Gallery
- Tate Modern
- The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
- New York Daily News
- Tokyo Biennale
Locations
- Shinano River
- Japan
- Tokyo
- London
- United Kingdom
- White House
- United States
- Hawaii
- Hiroshima
- Nagasaki
- Tama River