THE ART OF POSTAL AS A MEANS OF COMMUNICATION (MAIL ART)

Abstract

In recent years, increasingly popular postal art movement in our country has managed to attract attention with its adventure, nostalgia and philosophy. Postal art is an artwork that offers excerpts from life. It often carries the traces of the postal organization; with all the damage and stains it receives on the route before been reached to the recipient’s hands. Sometimes even with the handwriting additions of officers who will never be recognized. Postal art as an art movement which can be sent to desired recipient and location demonstrate a resistance against whom supporting the idea of that art is only for certain groups. Moreover, it publicizes the art by actually letting regular people who does not have artistic identities produce art. In order to fully comprehend the art of mail, evaluating only the artistic dimension of the work is insufficient. Moreover, before considering postal art as an art movement it is necessary to consider it as a way of communication. In communication with the art of mail, the basic elements of the communication process should be examined. Because some of the standards and rules that arise in the communication channel restrict and guide the freedom of this art movement. During the circulation of this art movement, local and international postal rules are applied in Turkey, which is a member of the Universal Postal Union organization. What are the communication processes of postal art in our country? In this research, answer to that question was sought and the communicative processes of the postal art were interpreted according to the local literature due to topicality. The study is restricted by the experience (problems and examples) of Öğr. Gör. Kevser AKTAŞ KURUÇAY who is lecturing for many years in postal services program. This study reveals the importance of postal art and the requirements of PTT for the art of mail.