15Four Mail Art
To the human imagination, to the freedom of creation, to the common voice of the world…
In 2011, at the 17th General Assembly of the World Art Associations, April 15th, Leonardo Da Vinci's birthday, was accepted as World Art Day upon the proposal of the UPSD Türkiye Delegation. Exactly eight years later, on November 23, 2019, UNESCO officially recognized April 15 as World Art Day. Since 2012, museums, galleries, non-governmental organizations, and educational institutions all over the world have been organizing celebrations on this special day with a wide range of participants from different disciplines of art. We, as the Faculty of Fine Arts at Adıyaman University, are honoring art, one of humanity's most fundamental forms of expression, with the " April 15th World Art Day 1st International Mail Art Exhibition".
Born exactly 573 years ago, on April 15, 1452, Leonardo Da Vinci was not only a leading artist of the Renaissance period; his scientific curiosity, aesthetic approach, and intellectual output placed him far ahead of his time, making him one of the strongest figures representing the "uomo universale" (the universal man) model of the Renaissance. Renaissance thought emphasizes the developability of human capacity and the ability of individuals to attain multifaceted competencies. Leonardo da Vinci, who is commemorated today with World Art Day, is regarded as one of the most comprehensive representatives of this understanding.
Mail constitutes one of the most patient and traditional forms of communication within the speed-oriented communication culture of our age. In this respect, mail art represents a stance against the rapidly consuming modern living conditions. Mail art, which has become a global art movement from the 1960s to the present day, has offered an alternative approach to the commodification of artwork, provided opportunities for wide participation, and made significant contributions to the accessibility of art by encompassing many disciplines, from postcards to collages, paintings to printmaking work and three-dimensional works.
As the Faculty of Fine Arts at Adıyaman University, we are honored to celebrate art worldwide through mail art on the birthday of Leonardo da Vinci, who has become a symbol of both art and the Renaissance with his timeless influence; we look forward to your contributions to this universal gathering with your works.
CURATOR
Asst. Prof. Dr. Başak DANACI POLAT