Stamps in Art and Painting
Since ancient times, the creation of stamps has been a unique art form. Crafting intricate designs and carving stones required exceptional artistic talent. As a result, ancient stamps are now considered priceless artifacts.
It’s fascinating to imagine how the master stamp makers of the past would react to today’s world, where anyone can effortlessly design complex stamps using digital tools. With no special skills needed, individuals can now create stamp images online.
Stamps and seals are essentially tools for applying ink to leave impressions. If artists can use any medium to express their creativity, why not use stamps for artistic purposes?
Federico Pietrella
In the Western world, stamps have largely been forgotten. However, fans of Italian artist Federico Pietrella, who resides in Berlin, are familiar with the unique charm of date stamps.
Pietrella is a renowned figure in the art movement known as "stamp impressionism." He creates his artworks using a date stamp, typically used for marking dates on documents or products.
From a distance, Pietrella’s paintings appear as monochrome images. Up close, they reveal countless individual date imprints. A distinctive feature of his work is that he always uses the current date, allowing viewers to trace the timeline of his creative process.
Fridon Aslanian
Armenian artist Fridon Aslanian is a versatile genius. His talents span painting, graphic design, interior design, architecture, and even the creation of traditional Armenian dolls.
Aslanian’s connection to stamps began accidentally while working at the "Yerevan project" company. While handling a large stamp, he experimented with creating a portrait of a woman seated nearby. This spontaneous act led to his unique "stamp portrait" technique.
Each portrait is a product of improvisation. Aslanian asks for a few minutes with a person’s stamp and creates their portrait using its impressions. Remarkably, no one has ever refused him—not even the son of an Arab Emirates Sheikh.
Vladimir Kolesnikov
Among the artists mentioned, Vladimir Kolesnikov from Krasnodar stands out for his socially charged works.
Kolesnikov’s project, "Signature," features portraits of people created using the facsimile signatures of famous individuals. This innovative approach adds a layer of meaning to his art.
The idea for this project emerged during the Georgian military conflict. Initially, Kolesnikov planned to create a portrait of a young soldier using the signatures of the Russian President, who had sent him to war. However, colleagues advised against it, deeming it too harsh.
Instead, Kolesnikov softened his approach, using signatures to provoke thought. For example, he created portraits of Vladimir Putin using Dmitry Medvedev’s signatures and vice versa. Similarly, he depicted Barack Obama with Kim Jong-Il’s signatures and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with Obama’s.
Stamps and seals are more than bureaucratic tools. They can convey emotions, inspire creativity, and even serve as a medium for social commentary. With the ease of creating stamps online, perhaps you’ll be inspired to explore the art of stamp painting after reading this article?
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Date of publication 2024-09-10
