Life in Jakarta #10: The Creativity Party in Popcon Asia 2014

[caption id="attachment_325122" align="aligncenter" width="508" caption="Gatotkaca action figure was sold in Popcon Asia 2014. The festival introduced various Indonesian superheroes including Gatotakaca known as the heroic wayang (Indonesian puppet) character. Gatotkaca recently transforms into figure in popular culture comic which brings him to be more popular among the young people"][/caption]

I believe that creativity is just like the fountain of the youth. It gives the spirit to explore passion, to stimulate brainwave to be productive, and to splash the happiness. Those are all the ways to stay young, aren’t they? Then how if thousands creative people gather in the same place?  There must be nothing but celebration. There must be party with the burst of youthful excitement and uproar of ideas sharing and finding.

[caption id="attachment_325130" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="One of booths of sketch making, exhibition, and sales"]

1411405956584338610

[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_325124" align="aligncenter" width="456" caption="Comic sketch making. People coming in Popcon Asia 2014 could see the process of making sketch for comic or book illustration"]

14114052352141012818

[/caption]

Last weekend in Jakarta, the creativity party was truly held. Located in SMESCO Exhibition Hall in South Jakarta, Popcon Asia (Popular Culture Convention Area) 2014 was held from September 19th to 21st as the biggest festival in Asia to celebrate comic, toys, movies, games, and animation. People coming were spoiled by 66 booths of artist alley and 41 companies working in creative industries.  The event conducted by KCB Convex in collaboration with Fabula, Kibar, Layaria, Pionicon and Plastic Culture was participated by several countries including Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, USA and the Netherlands. It got more festive with the support from France embassy through Institute Francais Indonesia (IFI), South Korean embassy through Korean Culture Centre, Samali Academy, and Indonesian Comic Community (KKI).

[caption id="attachment_325125" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="The live show of action figure making. Many interactive programs were offered during Popcon Asia 2014 including talk show, book launching, and comic signing"]

141140536889515343

[/caption]

As celebration, there had to be many fun activities to see and to do. Not only enjoying various artworks displayed on the booths, people could also join in comic and children book launching, talk show with games studio, celebrities’ meet and greet, cosplay fashion show, comic signing, playing online and board games, community gathering, merchandise hunting, and requesting sketch making, Furthermore, people were also introduced by numbers of Indonesian superheroes like Bima X, Garuda, Gatotakaca, Gundala, NusantaRanger, and Pendekar Tongkat Emas.

[caption id="attachment_325126" align="aligncenter" width="456" caption="The famous Japanese menu Takoyaki. Various food stalls were available during Popcon Asia 2014 which made the festival became more complete and attractive"]

14114055311359803626

[/caption]

Getting hungry in hours exploration during festival, people did not need to worry because several foods vendors were available. Meanwhile for selfie lovers, there were comic strips posters which could be exploited as selfie background. Taking photos could be more creative and attractive since there were many cosplayers with various unique customs to take picture with. It was more fun since there was booth providing free photo printing as well.

[caption id="attachment_325128" align="aligncenter" width="456" caption="A cosplayer lady. People were free to show their creativity including wearing unique costume"]

14114056701022718541

[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_325131" align="aligncenter" width="456" caption="Popcon Asia 2014 was held in SMESCO Hall South Jakarta from September 19 to 21"]

14114060761343697279

[/caption]

The festival already conducted third times was assumed to be attended by 20 thousand people. The point of celebration was successfully reached. There was interaction between people coming and they seemed to have fun with the explorations of creativity shown.

[caption id="attachment_325129" align="aligncenter" width="508" caption="Comic illustrators were challenged by making sudden comic strips in which they had to make illustration by continuing the strip already made by other illustrator"]

14114058181506932591

[/caption]