Last Weekend I went to the ultimate illustrator exhibition called "Illustrative" in Berlin. Besides visiting a beautiful city - Berlin is awesome - I got to check out some really great illustrations, installations and designs. I also talked to many designers and illustrators, and representatives of their agencies. Take a sneak peak in here.

Boy, what a great weekend.

About Illustrative

Illustrative is the self titled leading international forum for contemporary illustration and graphic arts. It takes place once year in two different cities around the globe. You may have seen it in Paris or Zürich, or in Berlin where it occured for the third time. Every year the exhibition displays an inspiring collection of current illustrative and graphical art with over 600 works from more than 60 artists.

Over the course of two weeks, the festival celebrates the illustrative arts, presents new talents and trends, exchanges ideas, marvels at progressive technologies, and rediscovers forgotten styles. Illustrative features an exclusive exhibition and shows works from 60 internationally recognised illustrators in addition to hosting conferences, a film program, and parties.

Illustrative displays not only the quality and fantasy of the latest graphic arts but also shows how the visual effects of graphic design, illustration, book art, comics, concept art, and animation spill into and influence the field of art.

Additionally - this year - MTV joined the party presenting their art community MTV Playground. Inside an old church they came up with lots of playful stuff where people had to interact with design; like a light graffiti room, showcases with remote controls, and tables where you could design your own typograpic print.

On top of that they arranged an art battle between two french artists, who in real life run a design studio called Ben & Julia. I'm going to tell you more about this in my second article about this event.

First Impressions

What could you pick for a better place than the St. Elisabeth Church an old grungy building to showcase a varity of illustrations.

Near the exhibition

The entrance

really nice illustrations

installations & movies showcased

I dont know why but I want this

lots of designs

walls

portfolios

artist doodeling

agencies promoting their artists

I had a little chat with the guy working for iStockPhoto. I want to give away 10 Credits for the iStockPhoto Website with which you can buy photos, videos, illustrations and audiofiles. Thanks to them.

Just retweet this article on Twitter and I pick someone in the next days @obstgemuese

Stairs

The Exhibition took place in a three story building. As a nice add-on effect they put prints and doodles on the walls so no walk was tiring. This was a brilliant idea and i spent a lot of time examing them closely.

Brief But Valuable Insight In The Artists Illustrations

Damien Poulain

'Totem 49' is a project consisting of a series of 49 hand-painted totems made of recycled wood, inspired by ancestral sculptures and religious fetishes. The project was conceived after I visited the Musée Guimet in Paris, and was impressed by the multitude of gods from oriental religions and the complex and obscure symbolism of their scultural representations.

I have always been fascinated by Outsider Art and was draws to the idea working with a form that I could only understand as an outsider. Knowing little about the motivations of the creators of the works that inspired me, I have adapted their form to examine contemporary culture.

My totems attempt to make solid, timeless objects from fleeting events of the 21th century, allowing for reflection on the colossal power of the image and the role of the new tribes and the mythology in an increasingly seculat society
- Damien Poulain

Haroshi

Lorenzo Petrantoni

Mario Hugo

Martin Haake

Yoh Nagao

Paul-Henri Masson

Rebecca Maeve Manley

Sebastien Preschoux

Sidney Pink

Skinner

Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for part 2 of the exhibtion.

About the author

Aloa is the moniker of the german/greek graphic designer/filmmaker & musician Alexis Papageorgiou. Im glad to share great artistic work with the readers on Abduzeedo. Contact me on aloa@abduzeeo.com or http://twitter.com/obstgemuese.

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