PICTOPLASMA - 'PEN TO PAPER'

An ongoing art project called ‘Pictoplasma’ came to London’s Concrete Hermit gallery during March this year to exhibit its latest book ‘Pen to Paper’. Pictoplasma being a platform for contemporary art focuses on reduced and abstract character representations throughout different media forms. Since its first event in 2004 audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds have been attending its events and from this a network has grown. Pen to paper is one of its exciting publications so far.

I find this concept can inform creative practitioners helping them to understand visual aesthetics that are applied across the modern spectrum of visual language.

ptp04: "Hold Me", Ian Stevenson, 2008, Pen on Paper

ptp09: "A non-corporeal life form", Seth Scriver, 2006, Acrylic ink on
wood panel

The two images above are taken from the book.This work is refreshing and brings people are coming together in a big way. Peter Thaller of the project spoke to me. He said (referring to pictoplasma project participants):

"They now simply have the possibility to expose themselves to, get involved by, and communicate with like minded artists around the globe and we very much like the resulting work."

It’s given me ideas about what ‘new art’ means today. Since the term ‘Art Nouveau’ that translates literally to ‘new art’ was coined in the late 20^th century the creative practitioners of the time were also (much as is done today) pursuing the jump between the 'academic' treatment of art and art as an expressive and cathartic indulgence. I recommend this to those willing to explore creatively. And if you disagree with that, it’s worth investigating for the cultural journey.

www.pictoplasma.com

By Mairead Gillespie