Geography is destiny.
(Juan Petry)
If there is indeed a next generation, we as cultural figures must also ask ourselves—in retrospect—what we did for peace during those times. I cannot anticipate the answers, but I can look to art history for evidence of creative individuals who also left their mark when they faced similar situations (world wars in Europe, recession, Breton Woods, United Nations, civil wars all over the place). The hybrid battlefield is complex, stretching from the cellular nucleus to the Silk Road, up and down the food chain, accompanied by propaganda and Orwellian newspeak. There must be something to freedom of thought if so much money and energy are being spent to restrict it.
Let us raise the voice of art for peace. Let us make a statement. Let us document our commitment to humanitarian dialogue. And let us wait without worry for the next generation’s question.
The PEACE Project is a social sculpture. In times like these, such a sculpture is multifaceted. It utilizes digital communication, mail art, various forms of visual art, and above all, local and direct communication. While insiders often sought refuge in science fiction in the past to escape censorship and persecution, art has always been a bastion of freer speech.
Predrag Petrovic, an artist from Serbia and self-appointed chief of mission, launched DADALAND in 2023. DADALAND is a social sculpture project that utilizes mail art as a communication channel. Some activities and artworks are documented on the IUOMA website.
In recent years, I have occasionally produced DADALAND Egg Editions and sent them worldwide via mail art contacts. Each edition has a theme and a limited print run. The cut-outs were created using a laser. Many have found their way into collages by other contemporary artists and are now represented in numerous collections worldwide.
I deliberately chose Predrag’s initiative as my starting point. The artist lives in Serbia, a country with many people who know firsthand what it means to be at war. It therefore seemed appropriate to connect my PEACE project with DADALAND. And thus, it is also a tribute to Predrag and his project.
Through the channels of mail art, I am connected with artists from all over the world. This also gives me direct access to eyewitnesses, both on and off the front lines. This is helpful if you want to get a true picture of the situation and are particularly interested in the reality of the societies affected.
So I selected 42 artists whom I identified as mail art artists. Each of these artists will receive an envelope containing a how-to guide for the project, documentation instructions, and 10 DADALAND Eggs (see the image above).
The artists are encouraged to reflect on the theme of peace and create their own artwork using the cut-outs—drawings, collages, mixed media. There are no limits to their imagination.
However, this project goes far beyond the usual scope of a collective mail art project. I will promote each mailing among my friends and acquaintances and ask for their support. I will look for a friend willing to pay the fee for sending one envelope. I want to know who wants to support me in an art project for peace. I will document this endeavor.
Each envelope contains a (M)ail (A)rt (D)etection number, which I generated on the website mad.anyfree.org. This allows me to track how long a mailing takes and whether it is delivered correctly. This information will also be documented.
The artists involved in the project are, in turn, encouraged to send the works they create to others. They are also expected to find and utilize supporters for such a project within their circle of friends. They should identify friends as well, willing to support the project by paying the fee to deliver the mail art. The artists’ submissions will be sent to national key figures in politics, business, and culture. This process will also be documented.
The artists are asked to digitally record all their works and upload these images to a dedicated website. Data about the work and the artist will be recorded and stored, as well as information about the intended recipient.
Furthermore, an online form has been created for the artists to document their experiences with the project, particularly their interactions with their personal networks regarding support for this PEACE project.
All of these sources will form the basis of a publication, a bound book, available from autumn 2027.
It all started with an email to a Russian mail art friend:
hello i.,
today i started a new mail art project related to the situation in the world, especially in Europe. i was looking up some mail art artist profiles on IUOMA. i found 79 fitting. i checked every profile and wrote – if possible – an email. i just asked if they are active in mail art. i sent 53 mails, 3 times it failed, rest is pending. also i prepared the first 23 envelopes with addresses ( where i could not find a mail in the profile on IUOMA).
the project is about PEACE. i am highly interested how it will play out in these days.
i will wait if i get some e-mail replies and more postal addresses… then i will send all envelopes from different postal offices in Europe. i will use my own tracking tool and i will see how many envelopes will reach the destination.
all this will be well documented (some citizens are suffering from not having free speech and censored or otherwise punished). its not about politics, its about humanity.
so i ask you now, if you also like to participate in this project. if so, i will use your actual direction in your IUOMA profile and send you the materials.
stay save, stay fine, stay healthy.
all the best
j.
The shipments to the artists will be sent from different European countries in the summer of 2026. This is also an important aspect of the project. It’s crucial to determine how secure the transport of art and messages via public postal networks still is in these times. This, too, will be part of the documentation.
Updates about the project will be published here in the near future. If you’d like to follow along, please bookmark this URL.