IN SEARCH OF THE
postworthy.
We think of postcards differently.
A postcard is thought made physical. It travels the world in search of its recipient and the distance it covers is real. You use a pen (or a pencil!) and you make your mark. These are not options, there is only ever a single original, and - once you've posted it - well, you know the rest.
Artefact Disco postcards are deliberately simple, perhaps even spartanly so, venturing as close as we dared to a blank canvas. But what a difference a few discreet marks can make!
Suddenly inspiration takes hold, courage rises, and it is somewhat easier to leap forward to fill the void with all manner of detail, ideas, and experiences.
Artefact Disco postcards are sketchable, paintable, note-taking tools for observing the present, capturing the fleeting, and sharing the noteworthy.
They are not only about the people, objects, and landmarks one encounters, but also the vivid personal stories woven through them, dispatched to loved ones around the world.
While technology has gifted us with the means for instant communications, we like to think that there is something much more eloquent, more nuanced, and more intriguing, at our disposal: the human imagination.
With pen and paper there are no lenses but your own senses and no filters but the fingers holding up that pen. What do you choose to see, hear, smell, and touch? With whom do you choose to share these stories?
Go forth, and seek the postworthy.
Bon voyage!
Hello, who are you?
The Artefact Dispatch Company, or Artefact Disco, is a postcard company started by Jiksun Cheung and Vicky Fong after a few lazy afternoons spent reading Species of Spaces and Other Pieces by Georges Perec. This particular series is an ode to his fascinating work.
What's so special about these postcards?
Unlike ‘traditional’ postcards, Artefact Disco postcards are designed to be written, painted, sketched, stamped, and [fill-in-the-blanked on] on both sides.
Each postcard contains a series of marks in gold foil. Think of these as tentative questions, hints, or suggested points of departure to help guide your observations - make of them what you will.
There is no right way to use an Artefact Disco postcard, only your way: what you choose to see and how you choose to depict things may also depend on who you choose to speak to. What would interest the recipient? What anecdotes, stories, adventures will you share?
What kind of paper do you use?
Excellent question! Each postcard is printed on deliciously thick 446 gsm Classic Crest in Avon Brilliant White, a long grain, smooth-finished paper from Tokyo-based Heiwa Paper Co. selected for its durability and well-balanced ink absorbency.
What's an Artefact, and while you're at it:
Artifact, or Artefact?
An artefact is an object made by a human being, typically one of cultural or historical interest. It's an object that, whether originally intended to or not, captures something from its time and derives its value from the stories and insights it conveys.
We like Artefact with an 'e' - it feels fuzzier, less scientific, and more tangible.
What is Series Nº 1?
If you're here, you've probably received a Series Nº 1 postcard in the mail from a friend or a loved one with some of their personalized notes and sketches.
Series Nº 1 is a set of ten individual Artefact Disco postcard designs, limited to a print run of 100 cards per design. The series is collected in 50 Artefact Disco Dispatch Boxes, each containing twenty postcards (two of each design).
Series Nº 1 is all about the interplay between any given place and the space one occupies within it.
Where can I buy postcards from Series Nº 1?
Series Nº 1 postcards are not available for purchase online at the moment. If you're an artist, writer, or would just really like to get your hands on a set, send us a request below or drop us an email at dispatches@artefactdis.co and we'll arrange to mail you a set while they're still available in our inventory. Each Artefact Disco Dispatch Box is US$45 excluding shipping, and contains twenty postcards - two of each design.
Is there a Series Nº 2?
Yes there IS. We're currently working on Series Nº 2 and promise that it will be extraordinary.
What's the Typo-in-the-URL Easter Egg Edition?
The what? Oh... that. If you arrived here via wwww.artifactdis.co (with an 'i') - congratulations! You've probably received one of our ultra limited edition postcards that have the incorrect web URL printed smack bang in the middle of it. We totally did that on purpose. After countless hours of proofreading too. Yes... indeed.
How do I get in touch?
Where can I see more of your stuff?
While the whole idea behind Artefact Disco postcards is to wrench ourselves away from technology if only for a moment - we'd also love to see the unique stories you've captured on each postcard. If you've got something to share:
#ArtefactDisco on social or email
dispatches@artefactdis.co
to be featured.
Find us on Instagram @ArtefactDisco or search for #ArtefactDisco to see how people are putting their Artefact Disco postcards to use!