Our visual culture is being taken hostage by a new wave of characters, abstract and reduced to minimal distinguishing graphic features. In the process of a truly explosive movement, they invade digital media, animation, advertising, art, fashion and street art. They playfully quote and remix such diverse phenomena as pop culture, tribal and folklore, brand logos and comics without restricting themselves to any single one of these genres. In such a way, characters speak to observers at an emotional level as well as crossing cultural boundaries.

Starting in 1999 with the world's first extensive inventory, collection and archive of contemporary character design, the Berlin based Pictoplasma project is defining the shape and velocity of this trend. Besides giving the characters a timeless and worthy manifestation through their acclaimed publications, Pictoplasma has been bringing together a growing international community of designers, artists, critics, producers and fans at their annual conferences in Berlin.

In September 2008, Pictoplasma is crossing the Atlantic and to host the first ever US-conference devoted to the wealth of a visual culture driven by characters. Creatives, producers, critics and fans are invited to gather and celebrate the diversity of character design.

For one weekend the Pictoplasma NYC conference transforms the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts into a character design Mecca. The event brings together an international scene of artists, designers and agencies and offers a unique forum for all those working with the visualization and application of character design. Whether illustration, animation, graphic design, urban vinyl, underground plush, street or fine art - the emphasis is not on the limits of style or format, but on the shared dedication to explore character-driven aesthetics. The lively exchange between the various disciplines highlights the importance of character design in contemporary visual culture.

Program

Thursday, the 4th of September
Opening Event & Get together
7 PM - open end
The Red Bull Space, 15 Watts Street
As the opening event to the festival, the Montreal-based Sid Lee Collective invites you to a welcome party and exhibition. Since 2006, artists such as Shoboshobo, Team Macho and Nate Williams have contributed to their ongoing project by leaving their mark with chalks on perfectly virgin blackboards.

The speakers of this year's Pictoplasma NYC will collectively let their characters invade the blackboards in a spontaneous happening and get together, inviting attendees to join them from 7pm on.

Friday, the 5th of September
Conference - day 1 / Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, NYU
- 11 AM doors open / ticketing
- 1 PM - 2:30 PM welcome address pictoplasma screening - Characters in Rhythm
- 3 PM - 5 PM lecture - Tokyoplastic lecture - Fons Schiedon
- 6 PM - 8 PM lecture - Tim Biskup lecture - Gangpol & Mit
- 9 PM - 11:30 PM lecture - Aaron Stewart lecture & performance - Motomichi Nakamura

Saturday, the 6th of September
Conference - day 2 / Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, NYU
- 9 AM doors open
- 10 AM - 12 AM screening - Characters in Motion lecture - panel
- 1:30 PM - 4 PM lecture - Akinori Oishi lecture - Studio AKA
- 5 PM - 7 PM lecture - David OReilly lecture - Friends With You
- 7:30 PM - 9 PM screening - Characters in Narration
- 10 PM - late Get into Character Party at Bar 13 //