Mieko (Chieko) Shiomi, Spatial Poem No.1, 1965/2000

Published by Fluxus Editions, New York. Reprint by the artist in 2000. Ink and pencil on white board, 30 x 46 x 2 cm, with ca. 75 offset cards on pins. The work comes with a specially designed mirror bottom plate and perspex cap, 35 x 50 x 10 cm. In mint condition.

Originally created in 1965, Spatial Poem No.1 was the first of a series of nine Spatial Poems. Shiomi sent out a request in the global Fluxus and Mail Art network asking for participation in a Word Event. 'Write a word (or words) on the enclosed card and place it somewhere. Please tell me the word and the place, which will be edited on the world map.' Each pin in the hand-drawn map carries a flag with the text she received. Among the respondents were Dick Higgins, Diter Rot, Nam June Paik ('sweet salt' from 'nowhere'), Takako Saito, Bon Watts, George Maciunas, Ray Johnson, Ian Hamilton Finlay et al.