The Pictoplasma Conference 2022 puts Community centre stage and invites all attendees to the premiere of their new Character Market.

Not long to go! The 18th edition of Pictoplasma will become everyone’s stage in a unique new democratic experiment, with many possibilities for attendees to shape and participate in the programme.

The conference will once again provide a platform to 20+ international artists to talk about their visual processes in focused presentations. Further announced artists include Dédouze (FR), Eva Cremers (NL), Natalie Labarre (USA), Lesley Barnes (UK), Rick Berkelmans / Hedof (NL) and more.

This year, the festival will also be expanding their Character Lab – the playground / networking zone for all conference attendees. Daily creative workshops will help participants channel inspiration and get hands-on with a multitude of materials and analogue media alongside extended panel discussions, participatory formats, networking sessions and portfolio reviews (which the AOI will proudly be part of too, more details coming soon!)

For the glorious finale, everyone’s welcome to participate in a special Character Market – a first for the conference – where the attendees themselves are invited to trade all things character, from editions, prints and originals, sculptures, multiples and garments, zines, publications and games … you name it! The Character Market will open up the contemporary landscape of illustration and graphic arts to the local Berlin audience.

Additionally, many guest speakers will be presenting works in an array of exhibitions, including a group show in an abandoned building in the cemetery of Alter St.-Marien und St. Nikolai, as well as an exhibition featuring editions and animations by Hedof and Dédouze at gallery Rainbow Unicorn. In the neurotitan gallery in Haus Schwarzenberg there will be a showcase of works by the Pictoplasma Academy Alumni 2019 (delayed twice because of the pandemic!) and the Ukrainian illustrator Anna Sarvira will show her works alongside other illustrators from her network Pictoric – a collection of empowering voices on the current war in their country.

All shows will be open daily from 12pm – 8pm.

The full programme of the 18th Pictoplasma will take place at Silent Green, Gerichtstraße 35, 13347 Berlin. 15th–18th September, daily from 10:00.

Participation in the three-day Pictoplasma Conference requires prior online registration, available for 320,- euros at conference.pictoplasma.com/registration. Student and group discounts are available.