Ceramics in an envelope: a postage stamp with plots by Olga Rapai-Markish was released
On August 1, 2023, a significant cultural event dedicated to the birthday of Olga Rapai-Markish took place at the Small Stage of the Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Drama Theater - a solemn presentation and special cancellation of thematic first-day envelopes and blocks of postage stamps dedicated to the work of the outstanding Ukrainian ceramist. For the first time in the history of Ukrainian philately, the fine art of this artist has been in the spotlight — not in a museum hall, but in the format of a miniature work of art that is now traveling the world on envelopes and postcards.
Three thematic envelopes and blocks of postage stamps are created based on fragments of Olga Rapai’s ceramic works that previously adorned Kyiv institutions: the lobby of the Bratislava Hotel restaurant, the facade of the House of National Creative Collectives, and the actors’ lobby of the Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Drama Theater.
The stamp presentation took place within the walls of the theater, where Olga Rapai once worked on creating the interior of the actors’ lobby, so the event also had a deeply symbolic dimension. The ceremony was attended by representatives of Ukrposhta, art historians, cultural figures, and the artist’s family. The atmosphere of the event on the Small Stage of the theater was a performance, and also combined solemnity with nostalgia, because it was not just about the postage stamp, but about paying tribute to the great artist who left a unique mark on the visual culture of Ukraine.
The special cancellation — a traditional ceremony in philately — marked the official launch of the stamps into circulation. First-day envelopes with the new stamp, stamped with a special cancellation with the date of the event, have already become collectibles. The stamps were issued in a limited edition and aroused interest among both philatelists and connoisseurs of Ukrainian decorative art.
This project is not only a tribute to the memory of Olga Rapai-Markish, but also an example of how the national post office can become a conductor of cultural heritage. Thanks to a small rectangle of paper with an art reproduction, Olga Rapai will known far beyond museums and theaters — perhaps even in the most remote corners of the world.
