Text: GustėKarkalaitė-Pocevičienė

The very first time I truly smash into character was the second book of Pictoplasma character encyclopedia.

I spend days and weeks staring at it and following the links from the book. From this time I just can not get enough of characters and they are taking more and more of my life, and I'm totally happy with it.

I promise to write more about this fantastic phenomenon of Pictoplasma organization later, but this time in occasion of 3rd Pictoplasma conference I want to talk a bit about this important event for international character creators and fans community.

In 1999 Berlin based Pictoplasma organization started with internet collection/archive, book publishing, performances and exhibitions of contemporary character design.
Pictoplasma project consistently developed and in 2004 the first Pictoplasma conference was on!

1st PICTOPLASMA CONFERENCE. BERLIN, 2004.

The first meeting for a growing, international scene of artists, character creators and producers.
With artist’s lectures, panels, exhibitions, workshops and performances it involved many creative and positive people into character world.
Talks by Gary Baseman, Furi Furi, Friends With You and more than other 15 international speakers, daily discussions on controversial topics with Miss Van, Doma, Dalek and others was very useful as more theoretical and serious look at contemporary character based young art.

CHARACTER AT WAR. A walk-through battlefield installation of life-size characters.
The original installation setup at the
gallery zentralburo in Berlin,
on October the 1st, 2004.

CONFERENCE. SPEAKERS.

CONFERENCE. WORKSHOPS&EXHIBITIONS.

2nd PICTOPLASMA CONFERENCE. BERLIN, 2006.

Second Pictoplasma Conference (2006) proceed with more speakers, workshops and exhibitions.
Among others, Nathan Jurevicius, Eboy and Tim Biskup shared their experience about character creation.
Very attractive performance by FWY involved many in CLOD's CITY, reborn PictoOrphanage characters invited every one GET INTO CHARACTER, and endless good mood and colourfull landscapes brighten Berlin!

CONFERENCE.SPEAKERS.

FWY. CLOD's CITY.

CONFERENCE. WORKSHOPS&EXHIBITIONS.

More pictures.

3rd PICTOPLASMA CONFERENCE. NYC, 2008.

This year (September 4-6, 2008) for one extended weekend Pictoplasma Conference moved over sees to New Your city and turned it to character design Mecca.
Illustration, animation, graphic design, urban vinyl, underground plush, street or fine art creators shared their dedication to character-driven aesthetics and thoughts about this specific art.
Lectures, presentations, screenings, performances, exhibitions and parties-committed to overview of the latest trends in character design.
Fantastic meeting of artists, creators, newcomers and enthusiasts filled the conference space with passion for characters.
Artists and designers talked about the meaning of characters in their work, production methods and engage in open discussion rounds.
Very special and important were lectures and presentations by international artists such as Friends With You, Akinori Oishi, Motomichi Nakamura ,
Fons Schiedon, Tim Biskup, Gangpol & Mit and Aaron Stewart.

CONFERENCE. SPEAKERS.

.

Watch the video of the opening night, throwing a Blackboard event at the Red bull Space.

More pictures.

PICTOPLASMA CONFERENCE. ARGENTINA.

2nd October one more Pictoplasma meeting starts in Argentina, I'm sure it will be awesome!!

Good luck guys!!

For more info and characters visit PICTOPLASMA - www.pictoplasma.com

Friends With You