Not so long ago, we had two Europes separated by History into West and East. West was fresh, colourful and smart, East was cold, grey and Utopia. And we are all aware of the stereotypes, but something still lives as a legend. Now borders are off, the Internet is on, we have ponies and rainbows, and we are repeatedly asking ourselves if our grass is as green as on the other side. Or maybe greener?
AndNowEast looks right of the imaginary fault line and asks: is there an Eastern European visual genius loci?
From Intaglio to Indigo to Instagram, the poster has continuously adapted to answer our communication needs. The placard is a versatile vehicle, a mirror of our social and cultural environment, and a summary of our material and immaterial appetites. In short: a coloured radiograph of civilisation.
We invite designers from Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, The Czech Republic, Ukraine to submit posters to the AndNowEast Poster Festival.
AndNowEast is a local initiative with a regional reach and a global mindset.
We are European optimists, and we believe the East is a magical place. We view Eastern posters as condensed displays of an under the radar regional visual ethos that may contribute to a more energetic European spirit.
AndNowEast encourages community dialogue and aims to build a directory of local voices and promote their work.
AndNowEast is a festival showcasing posters created by designers born and/or working in Eastern Europe, for local/regional events or campaigns.
AndNowEast is organised by Local Design Circle, an NGO aiming to become the voice of Romanian designers, facilitate access to education, and help shape a healthier visual environment.