Ten years of Pictoplasma

Since its inception in 2004, Pictoplasma has hosted, fostered and promoted a ‘uniquely playful and interdisciplinary investigation of new visual worlds in the digital age’ through its many publications and festival events.  

To celebrate its tenth anniversary, Pictoplasma is staging a vast group exhibition that brings together new works by the 100+ international artists, designers and illustrators who have most influenced the festival over the years. The Pictoplasma Portrait Gallery will showcase new artworks and sculptures by Rilla Alexander, Jon Burgerman, Tado, Gary Baseman and Genevieve Gauckler, as well as rising stars Sue Doeksen, Dante Zaballa and Melissa Godoy Nieto.

Earlier this year Pictoplasma launched an open call, inviting illustrators, character designers and artists to submit snapshots that their characters took of themselves. More than 100 resulting #CharacterSelfies will be on display – alongside exhibitions forming a ‘Character Walk’ throughout the central districts of Mitte and Neukölln.

Every year the festival has been the meeting point for 700 international leading visual creators and producers, joined by a local audience of thousands. It is an unconventional design conference, a trailblazing animation film festival, an eye-opening tour of gallery exhibitions – and it all thrives on the buzz of like-minded souls meeting, sharing and discussing the festival as it unfolds.

Pictoplasma is at Babylon Kino, Berlin from 28 April-5 May.Tickets for the conference (May 1-3) are sold out, however all of the accompanying character walk exhibitions, the central portrait group-show at Jandorf, evening animation screenings at Babylon and the closing festival birthday party on Saturday 3 May are free entry or accessible at a moderate price. Visit pictoplasma.com for details.

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Lisa Hassell is director of Inkygoodness.