a selman project

It’s no secret that every nation has its own unique culture, demographics, and associated social issues. Unfortunately, sometimes our perception of many countries is shaped most by the negative issues which bubble up in the media. Worse still, is that many countries go both unheard of and unheard by the larger world.

Thankfully, every nation equally produces individuals who devote and sacrifice themselves to the principles of peace, freedom, and equality. The Peace Post project began as a means to shine a light on individuals from around the globe who are champions of peace.

As a starting point, we determined that every sovereign nation should be represented in the project with a few key disputed states entered at our discretion. As a referential guide for each illustration, we profiled each country with a keen eye on the progression of traditional and contemporary visual styles associated with the art and culture.

In choosing which individual to profile for each country, we first referenced Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, notable omissions, and various other international peace awards looking for potential candidates. In several cases when a nation was not represented by a winner of a major peace award, we used our own research to find an individual who represented associated ideals and actions of peace advocacy.

We elected to represent the chosen individuals as a series of stamps for several reasons. Stamps have a long history of commemorating important people and events. Stamps are collectible and shareable. Perhaps most importantly, stamps represent a vehicle of correspondence and dialogue.

Our goal was to learn more about these countries, the positive people there, and share their stories with you.

For more information please contact:
chris@selmandesign.com
peacepost on instagram:
@projectpeacepost
Copyright and disclaimer
The content of this web site contains information, photographs, and media intended solely for educational purposes.

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Jose “Pepe” Mujica

  • Uruguay
  • Human Rights, Political

Jose “Pepe” Mujica is a former political prisoner who became the 40th president of Uruguay. He has been described as “the world’s humblest president” for his austere lifestyle and donating 90% of his salary to charities that benefit the poor and small entrepreneurs. In 2012, under Mujica’s leadership, Uruguay became the first country to legalize marijuana in an effort to treat addiction and weaken the drug cartels. He was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his legalization efforts.

Uruguay

  • Population
    3,428,762 (133rd)
  • Capital
    Montevideo
  • GDP (PPP)
    $21,719 per capita
  • August 25, 1825
  • Total Area
    176,215 km2 (89th)
  • Demonym
    Uruguayan
  • Government
    Unitary Presidential Constitutional Republic

Artwork

Uruguay is a melting pot of art, culture and design. Much of the population is composed of Italian and Spanish descendants who have a strong sense of national identity and patriotism for Uruguay. Post-Impressionism thrived in the country in the early 20th century with the internationally celebrated work of Pedro Figari leading the charge. Post-Impressionism strives to convey emotion and symbolism over naturalism. The sky-blue background represents freedom and independence in Uruguay. The color is also used for the national soccer team.

  • Illustration by
    Johnny Selman