Since 2019, I have been organizing a version of the famous 24-hour comics event created by US comic artist Scott McCloud in the 1990s. At the LCB literary center in Berlin, in a big house on the shores of Lake Wannsee, we bring together about 40 artists each time. The challenge is to develop an individual 24-page comic within 24 hours. With no preparation – the theme is announced shortly before the event starts – and no post-editing. The event runs from Saturday at noon to Sunday at noon. A part of the event is open to visitors.
The artwork for the 2019 edition (see below the drawing with the wave) was made by French artist Alex Chauvel. The theme of the event was “chimarrão” (mate). A selection of the comics was published in a book.
The artwork of the 2020 edition (the drawing with the paper sheets flying in the wind) was made by German comic artist Mawil. The event had to be cancelled at short notice due to another lockdown in Berlin. In 2021, we were finally able to hold the event, this time spreading it out in different locations around the city. To account for this new situation, Mawil made a version of his artwork, this time in apocalyptic style. The guiding theme for the creation of the comics was “zu eng” (“too tight” or “too narrow” in German). In the evening of the first day, we live-streamed some conversations with participants of the 24-hour comics, mediated by researcher Marie Schröer. You can watch it (in German) here:
The third edition took place in 2022, again at a single location. The theme was “mein Kindergarten” (“my kindergarten”). The artwork for this edition was made by German comic artist Lucie Langston (the black and white drawing). The event was followed by the ARTE channel.
The 2023 edition had a record number of applications (around 70) and participants (around 50, including artists drawing from home). The theme that guided the creation of the comics was “Schallwellen” (“sound waves”). The artwork promoting the event is by German comic artist Zora Sauerteig, who drew colourful animals in the LCB’s winter garden.
The next edition has been confirmed. It will take place on October 12 and 13, 2024. The plan is to increase our capacity and receive up to 50 people at the LCB. We also intend to encourage remote participation via virtual reality.
The photos below are from the 2019 and 2022 edition. Other photos (and further information in German) can be found by clicking here.
Date of events: October 12-13, 2019; October 9-10, 2021; October 8-9, 2022; and October 7-8, 2023
Location: Berlin, Germany
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Exhibition 4 JAHRE »4-STUNDEN-COMIC AM WANNSEE«
On the initiative of French comics artist Noémie Fantôme, an enthusiast of the 24-hour comics format, at the beginning of 2023 we organised an exhibition to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the Wannsee event. The vernissage took place on February 18, 2023 in the neurotitan gallery of Haus Schwarzenberg in Berlin and brought together – for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic – the local comics scene. The event featured comics readings by Łukasz Majcher, Mawil, Tine Steen, Marius Schmidt, Phine Wolff, Bruno Giannori and Lucie Langston, as well as music by DJ Auge Lorenz. More than 40 artists exhibited their work in the exhibition, which ran until March 11, 2023.
Further information about the exhibition can be found on the website of the neurotitan gallery (in German).
Below you’ll find the exhibition catalogue, with texts in English and German and lots of photos of the works and the vernissage. The exhibition and catalogue were designed by Noémie Fantôme. The poster was designed by Bruno Giannori.