05-09-2018
Posti will make history on September 12 when it releases the world’s first stamps featuring real graffiti. Other themes in September’s stamps include climate change, symbols of Finnish nature and parks in coastal cities.
Last May, Posti granted its Art Award to Finnish graffiti artist EGS, whose graffiti will be presented on the first ever stamps to feature real graffiti. Two graffiti pieces painted by EGS were chosen for the stamps. One of the graffiti pieces was painted at an industrial area nearby Melbourne, Australia and the other one was painted on the side of a small truck in St. Petersburg. Both graffiti pieces depict the letters E, G and S.
Internationally recognized and renowned artist EGS appreciates the fact that the stamps feature graffiti created in real environments. “Photographs are the best way to document real graffiti, which is always created at a specific time and place, and in a specific atmosphere. I don’t think the actual graffiti pieces depicted on the postage stamps exist anymore. It’s great that they can be given a new life in the form of a million postage stamps. EGS has been familiar with letters and stamps for many years. “I had more than a dozen pen pals all around the world, and we exchanged photos of graffiti. Now, I am going to send my old colleagues a bundle of photos in a first day cover with postage stamps that I have designed myself. It is a bit different from publishing digital photos on Instagram,” says EGS, smiling.
With the Art Award, valued at EUR 10,000, Posti is aiming toward an increased appreciation and status of both art and postage stamps. “With the Art Award, Posti is seeking artists outside the established postage stamp circles. EGS and his graffiti break the boundaries of conventional art. Visually, graffiti art suits stamps very well,” says Posti Design Manager Tommi Kantola. Posti’s Art Award 2017 was won by sculptor Jasmin Anoschkin.
Source: Omniva
Internationally recognized and renowned artist EGS appreciates the fact that the stamps feature graffiti created in real environments. “Photographs are the best way to document real graffiti, which is always created at a specific time and place, and in a specific atmosphere. I don’t think the actual graffiti pieces depicted on the postage stamps exist anymore. It’s great that they can be given a new life in the form of a million postage stamps. EGS has been familiar with letters and stamps for many years. “I had more than a dozen pen pals all around the world, and we exchanged photos of graffiti. Now, I am going to send my old colleagues a bundle of photos in a first day cover with postage stamps that I have designed myself. It is a bit different from publishing digital photos on Instagram,” says EGS, smiling.
With the Art Award, valued at EUR 10,000, Posti is aiming toward an increased appreciation and status of both art and postage stamps. “With the Art Award, Posti is seeking artists outside the established postage stamp circles. EGS and his graffiti break the boundaries of conventional art. Visually, graffiti art suits stamps very well,” says Posti Design Manager Tommi Kantola. Posti’s Art Award 2017 was won by sculptor Jasmin Anoschkin.
Source: Omniva