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Performance Art Through Guinness Records
- Mat Hand treated breaking Guinness records as performance art and sold tickets to attempts like a 5-hour table-tennis rally.
- He says failure is a redundant concept in conceptual art and invited audiences to witness his record attempts.
How Beer Mats Became Ubiquitous
- Beer mats evolved from 18th-century coasters used to slide decanters around after servants left the table.
- Refrigeration and condensation made beer mats widespread, and Germany produces most of them today.
Mass Production Behind Everyday Coasters
- A single German company (the Cats group) manufactures about 75% of the world's beer mats, roughly 5.5 billion annually.
- Their factory even uses a massive debarking 'washing-machine' to strip bark from logs before pulping.