About Gods and Heroes // Opening: Tue, 17.03.2009, 20:00 // Exhibition 18.–22.03.2009 // open daily from 14:00 - 20:00 // further infos on the Pictopia program below   General Public is proud to present the first artist in residence project of Pictoplasma presented during the Pictoplasma Character Walk.   The jury has chosen out of more than 50 proposals to present two young and emerging artists: Michal Dabrowski (PL) and Gediminas Šiaulys (LT)   // Heroes Of Might And Maybe, mural, 2009 Michal Dabrowski pities Superman, because he always has to play the tough guy, but at the same time he envies him a little, because he probably never had bad skin. He thinks Dr Doom might like Joy Division. He thinks super-heroes used to be gods, but grew up into humans. His installation, developed especially for the Character Walk, takes a humorous looks at our weaker selves.   // Pagan Lullaby, installation, 2009 Gediminas Šiaulys works as an illustrator and designer in Lithuania and is inspired by nature, fairy tales, folk art and the pale colours of his Soviet childhood. In this exhibition, he takes us on a journey back in time, to the pre-Christian era, which thrived much longer in Lithuania than anywhere else in Europe. ‘Pagan Lullaby’ is a tribute to the pagan gods in those magical days when forests, animals and bees were holy. "The weird, the wild is still part of our present times and still lives in our heads against all rationalism. It rules at times our lifes and destroys the shiny illusions, in which we are feeling so peacefully save." Tankred Dorst Gods and heroes reflect the human condition: the research of mankind to explain itself the secrets of the world and its quest for finding rules for stable social interaction. Gods could be described as this externalised conflict and heroes as the definers of ethics. Religious parables and the mythical heroes are the topic of the exhibition. Šiaulys takes us back to ancient pagan times where nature was holy and paradise not lost, a dream that could be realised again and points out to religious fundamentalism as a lullaby that sounds in many ears as a solution for a better life even if it is only situated in a metaphysical promised paradise.   Dabrowski questions the crisis of the modern hero within a fragmented world where more than ever it becomes clear that good intentions may cause unintentional damages. Decision making becomes a torturing undertaking.   It might be that in the end it is the conflict between tradition and modernity where the first one can lead into a paralysing state of fighting for a paradisiacal world and the latter one in a state of destructive inconclusiveness. Both turn out to be a psychic crisis that can convert into a constant cataclysm or turning point.   Further information: > G. Siaulys > M. Dabrowski > Pictoplasma Character Walk > Pictoplasma Artist In Residency       Related Events: 1. PICTOPIA festival, conference and exhibition at HKW // Opening: Thu, March 19, 19h > learn more about PICTOPIA     2. CHARACTER WALK WELCOME PARTY @ WEEKEND in cooperation with DISK/CTM // Date: Wed 18 March  // Time: 22h  // Venue: Alexanderstr. 7, 10178 Berlin  // Entrance: 8 €   Dance to: Guillaume & the Coutu Dumonts (Live) Crackhaus (Live) and DJs   After two days of non-stop gallery hopping, it’s time for a first Character Walk welcome party and a last deep breath before we all dive into the foreign waters of Pictopia. You are still on safe terrain, so take the elevator to the 12th floor and join us for a supreme panoramic view of Berlin at the Weekend Club. Here, the stars come out as the night kicks off with live sets by Guillaume & the Coutu Dumonts and Crackhaus from Canada.      3. CHARACTER SCOPE SHOWDOWN PARTY @ TAPE in cooperation with DISK/CTM // Date Sat 21 March  // Time: 23h  // Venue: Tape, Heidestrasse 14, Berlin  // Entrance: 10.- €    Floor 1:  Tobias Thomas (DJ)  Pan/Tone (aka Sid Le Rock, Live)  Gangpol & Mit (Live)  Ben Butler & Mousepad (Live)    Lounge:  O Tannenbaum DJs    Exhibition hall:  Andrea Crews Character Catwalk – performance  Motomichi Nakamura – installation  W+K Tokyolab with sound by Scott Monteith (aka Deadbeat) – AV-set   After the 3 days of the 3rd Pictoplasma Conference, upgrading you to the latest developments in the world of caracter design, 3 dozens of exhibitions within thePictoplasma Character Walk, and the Pictopia Exhibition at the House of World Cultures, this night celebrates the grand finale of the Pictoplasma Pictoptopia festival. Join us at Berlins Tape club for an eclectic mix of music, video, art and performance.    > March 17, 2009   <- Back to: Exhibitions
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