Takeshi Murata + Christopher Rutledge

20^thPICTOPLASMA BERLIN

CONFERENCE AND FESTIVAL
OF CONTEMPORARY CHARACTER DESIGN AND ART

1 — 5 MAY 2024

Pictoplasma, the world’s leading conference of contemporary character design in illustration, animation, graphic and urban arts, celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Over the past two decades the Berlin-based project has promoted a uniquely playful and interdisciplinary investigation of new visual worlds in the digital age, served as a lively forum for a growing international community, and redefined the boundaries of contemporary character representation.

To pay tribute to our coming of age, this May 1—5, Pictoplasma awaits all international character creators and connoisseurs for a specially immersive programme of awe-inducing artist presentations and back-to-back conference lectures, freshly hatched animations illuminating the big screen, numerous hands-on workshops, endless fun, inspiration and loads of visual confetti …

LIMITED TICKETS FOR PICTOPLASMA 2024 NOW AVAILABLE

CONFIRMED PARTICIPATING ARTISTS AND SPEAKERS

The central Pictoplasma Conference presents 18 key lectures by the world’s most influential artists and upcoming talents, cutting-edge illustrators, designers and leading animation filmmakers, offering the chance to learn from and be inspired by some of today’s most innovative and avant-garde artists.

Ana Seixas

Portuguese Illustrator and ceramicist now following her passion and running her own brick-and-mortar shop in the centre of Porto to create and showcase her colourful, bold and quirky characters in one place.

BORA

French interdisciplinary queer artist exploring different media to create a universe where imagination is a form of activism

Christopher Rutledge

USA

CG artist, animator and master of “Houdini” based in Los Angeles creating grotesquely detailed yet charmingly floppy characters

Clémentine Bal

Artist crafting other-worldly character sculptures that materialise as multi coloured mountains or anthropomorphic volcanoes, hybrid ghosts, or semi-human creatures

Eric Schwarz

DE, FR

Eric aka @comicblues loves oversharing his thoughts on life, love and loneliness on social media

Genie Espinosa

Barcelona based illustration freelance gone full-on bright coloured, birthing bold, fearless, strong, angry, unapologetic characters

Grip Face

Artist at home in a wide range of media, from intimate works on paper to textured sculptures and public space interventions

Joe Bennett

USA

Los Angeles based artist, animator and co-creator of acclaimed adult science fiction drama ‘Scavengers Reign’ for HBO Max

Joe Taylor

British graphic designer gone full-time animator and illustrator, building a visual world of surreal, funny, and sometimes disturbing encounters

Joseph Melhuish

3D artist slash animation director famed for his glossy, acid saturated, contorted CGI character creations

Josephine Rais

Illustrator creating strong, often female-led compositions for multidisciplinary projects: from illustrations, to original works and strategic design

Los Calladitos

Mexican muralist duo bringing their creation to walls across the globe from Latin America and the US to Europe, currently immersed in crafting an animated series

Mila Useche

COL

Colombian artist working for the likes of Disney, Warner Brothers or Nickelodeon, recently avoiding client work to create personal projects and physical art pieces

Oskars Pavlovskis

Latvian character artist combining digital and analogue illustration techniques, academic drawing, comic art, sculpture and 3D computer graphics

Parn Aniwat

THA

Bangkok born, Texas-based artist known as Wood You Mind, creating whimsical toys from chunks of timber

Peter The Roman

Digital artist with a background in traditional painting, creating melted and bloated figurative forms with a luring, almost lustful physicality

So Lazo

ELSL

Illustrator from El Salvador, now living in Berlin, who is also a book author, occasional tattoo artist and full-time shy clown

Sophie Koko Gate

Artist, animation director, and writer based in London

SCREENINGS 2024

The 2024 animation section presents new short films in four programs, featuring the latest and freshest generation of characters in motion, be it narrative shorts, music visuals, experimental animation, and anything in between – with many of the filmmakers present to discuss their work in Q&A sessions.

VIEW SELECTION

CHARACTER LAB 2024

WORKSHOP/

Woodcarving with Wood.youmind

Armed with a utility knife and humble block of wood (and some protective gear), experience the slow pleasure of woodcarving with Wood.youmind. Participants will learn the basics of subtractive sculpture and leave with a perfectly imperfect new friend (and hopefully, very few splinters).

WORKSHOP/

NEEDLE FELTING WITH OSKARS PAVLOVSKIS

With patience and pointy needles, poke fibers into friendly forms with Oskars Pavlovskis. Participants will learn the finer details of felting small soft sculptures, morphing colorful wool into never-before-seen 3D shapes.

WORKSHOP/

Pixel Printing with ERIC SCHWARZ

Seek meaning in small squares in pursuit of the perfect pixel print with Eric Schwarz. Coax a character into 2D consciousness, then capture it in ink for an eternity. Sometimes the best things come one dot at a time.

PanEl/

The Era of Characterism?

20 years ago Pictoplasma proclaimed: “… contemporary character design is redefining the aesthetic standards of visual communication worldwide!”
*/ Needle-scratch /*
2 decades later, it’s time for a reality check: What came of 2004’s lofty proclamation? Are today’s creative industries and genres still hungry for character connection?

NETWORKING/

PORTFOLIO REVIEW
SPEED PITCHING

This rapid-fire networking event grants conference attendees private face-to-face time with ten industry leaders, agencies, production companies and talent scouts. You’ll have exactly 6 minutes to make a lasting impression and gather valuable feedback before the gong sounds and a new face takes your place.

PECHAKUCHA/

ATTENDEE STAGE PRESENTATIONS

Selected from prior applications, 21 attendees take the stage and introduce their own work in a lively, concise PechaKucha style presentation: 20 slides have 20 seconds each to surprise and inspire – ranging from the genres of animation and illustration to new media and arts.

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CHARACTER WALK / EXHIBITIONS / GROUP SHOWS / PANELS / PORTFOLIO REVUES / CHARACTER LAB WORKSHOPS / ART JAMS / ATTENDEE STAGE / CHARACTER MARKET / NETWORKING EVENTS / LIVE PERFORMANCES / PARTIES /

CHARACTER WALK / EXHIBITIONS / GROUP SHOWS / PANELS / PORTFOLIO REVUES / CHARACTER LAB WORKSHOPS / ART JAMS / ATTENDEE STAGE / CHARACTER MARKET / NETWORKING EVENTS / LIVE PERFORMANCES / PARTIES /

SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1

15:00 Opening of the Festival Exhibitions and Group shows, Conference Attendee Pre-Registration
20:00 Welcome Party @ACUD

THURSDAY, MAY 2

10:00 – 20:00 Animation Screenings, Conference Talks, Workshops, Panels, Attendee Stage
20:00 Character Performance Evening

FRIDAY, MAY 3

10:00 – 20:00 Animation Screenings, Conference Talks, Workshops, Panels, Portfolio Reviews, Attendee Stage
22:00 Psychedelic Midnight Mix Screening @Colosseum

SATURDAY, MAY 4

10:00 – 20:00 Animation Screenings, Conference Talks, Workshops, Panels, Attendee Stage
22:00 Post-Picto-Party @Zenner

SUNDAY, MAY 5

12:00 – 20:00 Open Character Market, Animation Screenings, Art Happenings @silent green

VIEW FULL SCHEDULE

BERLIN VENUE

Pictoplasma Berlin 2024 takes place at the extensive premises of a former crematorium, the silent green, a beautiful, vibrant cultural venue that has already hosted several memorable Pictoplasma events. silent green houses all activities at one lively venue, with conference talks, panels, animation screenings, workshops and exhibitions happening both inside and Open Air.