In the last few months daily life as we know it has been brought to a halt by a health crisis which demands from us that we navigate the world in a different way: to be aware of our bodies and to distance ourselves from others.

These trying times affect some more than others but we are all presented with the challenge of staying in touch without physically coming near. As a curator for Perdu, an experimental poetry and literary center in Amsterdam, this has meant searching for new ways to reach our audience after temporarily closing our doors.

By the extended reach of the written letter, Dear, seeks to connect poets, writers and artists to readers and establish a sense of closeness in times of isolation. Dear, will function as a messenger between writer and reader and distribute a letter by post each month.

The letters are dedicated to a friend, a specific situation, a time in the past or future or an object. In this they render the private public and make palpable the singularity of experience in which we are both together and apart. Together the letters will form an intimate document of a specific moment in time.

The first four letters will be written by writer and artist Huw Lemmey, artist Sands Murray-Wassink, poet, playwright and performance artist Ariana Reines and artist, writer and activist Hamja Ahsan.

The letters are written in English and available in an edition of 100. Follow Dear,for the monthly announcement of the letters after which you can subscribe as a recipient for a small fee.

The first letter, written by Huw Lemmey, will be posted on the 29th of May for which you can now subscribe!

Perdu www.perdu.nl

Dear, www.instagram.com/dear.byextendedreach