Message in a Bottle – Mail Art Exhibition

Message in a Bottle –  WERK 2, Leipzig 8 September – 21 November 2025

What happens when the romantic idea of a drifting bottle becomes a global art movement? The Leipzig-based printmaker etcetera23 (André Radke) turns the concept of the traditional message in a bottle on its head: instead of casting messages into the sea, he invites artists worldwide to send their thoughts, dreams, and provocations via postcard.

The result is “Message in a Bottle,” a vibrant mail art exhibition hosted by the Grafikdruckwerkstatt at WERK 2 in Leipzig. With over 350 original works submitted by 280 artists from 35 countries, the show celebrates the power of analog communication in a digital age. Each piece—created using techniques like linocut, etching, letterpress, and riso—explores the poetic tension between sender and unknown recipient.

Inspired by historical figures like oceanographer Georg Neumayer, who used bottle messages to study sea currents, and literary icons such as Astrid Lindgren and Edgar Allan Poe, the exhibition blends scientific curiosity with artistic imagination. It’s a tribute to the enduring allure of messages that may never arrive—but always inspire.

Curated by etcetera23 in collaboration with Nadine Respondek, the exhibition is open to all ages and features guided tours on 22 October and 5 November. All works are documented on Instagram (@mailart23), continuing the journey from mailbox to gallery to global audience.

FLASCHENPOST — MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

MAILART — Exhibition 2025 Grafikdruckwerkstatt Werk2 Leipzig

350 Works - 280 Artist - 35 Countries 

ARGENTINIA - Floki Gauvry, Raquel Gociol AUSTRALIA - Adam Blackshaw AUSTRIA - Barbara Fuchs, Bettina Berger-Zimmermann, Eva Pisa, Eva Posch, Gabriele Müller, Sonja Krainz, Ursula Olbert, William Lee BELGIUM - Jan Theuninck, Silvia Dubois, The Wasted Angel, Viva Vercruysse BRAZIL - Constanca Lucas, Jussara Maria Villasboas de Andrade, Marcia Rosenberger, Maria Do Carmo Both, Renata Daonicek, Zamy Pesci CANADA - Cathy Stoyko, Lorraine Kwan, Marisol Laviolette,Mary Kritz, Patricia Gospar, RF Cote, Spike Spence, Spike Spence, Susan Gold-Smith CROATIA - Juraj Jonke DENMARK - Poul Pollage FINNLAND - Faculty of Art & Design University of Lapland (Leila Lipioinen, Kristiino Kruuti, Aura Leskinen, Tuovi Lammosletho, Kukka Marria Juvonen, phantom_cathleen, Kaista Vinto), Julia Pärnönen FRANCE - Christiane Carre, Michael Della Vedova, Patricia Fiammingo, Richard Boaudet GERMANY - Al Bundy, Anette Bettlau, Anette Scheffel, Anna Hoffmann, Barbara Ihme, Beate Schnell, Beate Senf-Hentsch, Bernhard Zilling, Bibs, Birgit Bächt, Birgitta Volz, Boehnhas, Christophe Carbenay, Conny Klose, Dadanautik, Dr. Serofine Christine Kratzke, Franziska Jäger, Hanna Stange, Hans Jürgen Küster, Hanseatische Analog Post, Horst Tress, Irene Beyer-Stange, Jana Rüd, Jeanette Geissler, Johann Leschinkohl, Jürgen Grießbach, Karin Ritter, Kulturhauptstadt Chemnitz, Laetitio Hildebrand, Lars Schumacher, Lucas Jacobi, Luna Peuker, Lutz Anders, Lutz Beeke, Majon Wallis, Manuela Merl, Marcel Heisig, Melanie Bäreis, Michael Georg Bregel, Mina Braun, Nula Horo, Wolfgang Günther, Peter Schubert, Popett.77, Ralf Buchholz, Rebecca Schmidt, Seth Nicemail, Sibylle Möndel, Steffen Persiel, Stephan Mitterwieser, Susanne Schumacher, Thomos Westermann, Thorsten Fuhrmann, Ulrich Tarlatt, Edition Augenweide, Ursula Häberle, Uwe Höfig, Brandstifter GREECE - Katerina Nikolsov, Nicolos Malevitsis HUNGARY - Biro Ildiko, Lisonyi Endre, Peter Abajkovics INDIA - Urmila Gahkolia ITALY - _Guroga, Angela Caporasa, Anna Maria Maretto, Anne Russo, Antonella Bellicoso, Bruno Chiarlone, Carmela Sarcina, Cris Piloto, Daniela Maggi, Daniele de Magistris, Daniele Virgilio, Eliso Favero, Elisa Rioda, Fabrizio Pavolucci, Frabrizio Bandini, Gebriella Pavanello Quirgilio, Gigliola Sorovia, Giorgio Collini, Giovanni & Renata Strada, Guido Capuano, Leona K. Lerici, Marco Furia, Maria Tereso Cazzaro, Maria Vittoria Toson, Massimo Conto, Mourizio Colloni, Mirta Caccaro, Oronzo Liuzzi, Roberto Scala, Ruggero Maggi, Serena Favaro,Serse Luigetti, Silvona Ceroudo, Silvano Pertone, Simone Diniro, Verdiana Calia e Mottia Montemezzani, Veronique Pozzi Paine JAPAN - Keiichi Nakamura, Ryosuke Cohen LEIPZIG - Alioscha, Andre Radke (etcetera23), Andreas Weißgerber, Anja Braune, Anke Stolle, Atra Gerber, Bea Puschka, C. Stark, C. Tietze, Christiane Franke, Conny Dähne, Forum Thomanum, Gobijo Vidrinskaite, Georg Fischer, Grofikdruckwerkstatt Werk2 (Nadine Respondek, Gustov, Henriette, der Produzent, Javi, Johanna, Pappagei), Halle 14 — Spinne besucht den Hildegarten (Miriam Zedelius, Kerstin Rupp, Matilda, Yasmin, Rosalle, Olivia, Merle, Alea, Hilde, Jette, Heol, Malio), Heidemarie König, Ina Zechendorf, Johannes Klauke, Luise Bräuer, Marat Abadi, Marc Dettmaonn, Matthias Jun Wilhelm, Melanie Berger, Mena Standhaft, Miriom Stickl, Mirko Schmidt, Phoolan Motzak, Rita Barwitzki, Rosa Ragas, Sandy Manu, Sascha Patzig, Susann Hanschke, Susanne Mitterwieser, Suse Graupner, Urte von Maltzohn-Lietz, Ute Hellriegel, Veronika Kaiser MALAYSIA - Suzlee Ibrahim MEXICO - Ignacio Novarro Cortez NETHERLAND - Harriet Ykema, Jan van de Fol, Johannes Christopher Gerad, Liset von Dommelen, Roy Scholten, Walburgis Meijers NORWAY - Gunn Morstol, Risto Holopainen PAKISTAN - Lubna Aslam POLAND - Among Scrotches, Beata Johanna Przedpetska, Dorota Kilichowska, Kamil Jerzyk, Marija Jerzyk, Monika Cheberlie PORTUGAL - Paulo Teles, Rodrigo Vilmena BELARUS - Irina Novikova ROMANIA - Alexandru Jakabhazi, Eduard Jokabhozi, Miruna Carauso, Nani Corina RUSSIA - Spencer Nasta SLOWENIA - Tanja Spenko SPAIN - Manuel Sainz Serrano, Manuel Xio Blanco, Mikel Untzilla, Potxi Serrano, Pedro Bericat, Pedro Gonzalves Garcia, Sabella Bana SWEDEN - Henry Grahn Hermunen SWITZERLAND - Fernonada Bergmann, Rittiner & Gomez TAIWAN - William Merlott TURKEY - Aliye Zehro Ersöz, Cagla Topgül, Dog. Dr. Tutku Dilem Alpaslan, Elif Yücel, Eliif Dag, Fatma Cetinkaya, Halide Rand Pagal, Hatice Gamtepe, M. Sahin Bulbul, Meral Agar, Nazende Yücel, Ozlem Uzun Haozneci, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Cevat Atalay, Türkan Elci UNITED KINGDOM - Jon Howe, Lola Gonzalez, Portiphillio, Simon Warren UKRAINE - Roman Golup URUGUAY - Maria Victoria Bone Romirez USA - Angela Arrey Wastavino, April Milszeski, Catherine Mehrl Bennet, Devin Cohen, Holly Johnson, Honoria Starbuck, Jim Heyes, Joan M. Carter, Joeanally Gonzales, Joey Patrickt, Michelangelo Mayo, Milicent Fambrough, Rebecca Martell, Russel Manning, Stephen Tomasko, Todd Camplin, Tofu, Tom Courcelle

Location: Kochstraße 132, 04277 Leipzig, Deutschland

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