Consensus Unreality

Unfolding Alternate Realities, Ong's Hat, Synchronicity and more with Joseph Matheny

Sep 30, 2025
In this captivating discussion, Joseph Matheny, an interdisciplinary artist and pioneer of the Ong's Hat project, shares insights from the early internet and mail art movements. He reflects on the origins of Ong's Hat, blending local folklore with collaborative storytelling. Matheny explores the chaotic creativity involved in art and synchronicity, recounting uncanny encounters that shaped his work. He also sheds light on the evolution of alternate reality games, their commercialization, and the push towards grassroots narratives, making for a thought-provoking listen!
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ANECDOTE

Living Book Performance

  • Joseph Matheny described his 1984 college project that combined a poetry book, videotape, and live performance into a
INSIGHT

Seeing The Internet As A Medium

  • Matheny recognized early internet access as the next creative medium and intentionally prepared work to intersect with it.
  • He aimed to evolve his mail-art practice into networked, interactive storytelling.
ANECDOTE

Mail Art Roots

  • He explained mail art: artists mailed copies of works to a shared list who altered and returned them, creating collaborative artifacts.
  • This snail‑mail collaboration influenced his later network projects.
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