What does peace mean to you? This is the core question of our project "Postcards for Peace", which we are carrying out together with the Goethe-Institut Georgia and the Goethe-Zentrum Yerevan in Armenia. 15 students in Armenia dealt with this question creatively and created handmade postcards using the monotype technique. During this workshop, the participants learned about different peace symbols, developed their own symbol and decorated their postcard with it. The result is fantastic.
Now, students at a selected school in New Delhi will participate in a similar workshop on the topic of peace. Together, we will not only talk about the meaning of peace and peace symbols, but also get to know the country of Armenia and, of course, design postcards together. These will then be sent back on their way to Armenia. We hope that this will develop into a pen friendship.
The first sign that many probably think of when they think about peace is the CND symbol. A circle is divided in the middle by a line and two more lines across from the centre. Few people probably know where the symbol came from. In 1958, the British artist Gerald Holtom designed this symbol for a campaign for nuclear disarmament. He combined the letters N for "nuclear" and D for "disarmament" from the winker alphabet. Another well-known sign is the dove of peace, a symbol that comes from the Bible. Also, a white flag, two spread fingers, a broken rifle or an olive symbolise peace. What other peace signs do you know? What do you associate with peace?
Monotype is a unique technique of fine art from the 17th century. It is not painted directly on paper or canvas, but first on materials such as glass, metal or acrylic plates. As long as the paint is not yet dry, the colours are printed by hand or a special press on paper. This creates a unique work of art, a charming imprint.
Contact
If you have any questions or comments about this project, please feel free to contact matthias.duennwald@goethe.de.
