Pecha Kucha (a Japanese expression that denotes the sound of a conversation, something like whispering) is an informal event where creators from different areas come together to exhibit their work, facilitating a space for discussion and inspiration, while generating new contacts and expanding networks of familiarity and collaboration.

But as we all know, give a microphone to a designer (especially an architect) and you’ll be hooked for hours. The key to Pecha Kucha is its patented system for avoiding this trap: each presenter shows 20 images, each held for 20 seconds—giving a total of 6 minutes and 40 seconds of fame before the next presenter takes their turn. This keeps presentations concise, audience interest high, and gives more people the opportunity to present.

Pecha Kucha, conceived by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham (Klein Dytham architecture www.klein-dytham.com), began in 2003 in Japan as a platform for young designers to meet, find collaborations, and showcase their work publicly (it was also, admittedly, an excuse to attract more people to their then newly opened multimedia event space in Tokyo). Its formula has resonated with a global demand for venues where young creators can easily and informally display their work, and almost unexpectedly, Pecha Kucha has expanded to over 300 cities worldwide, including Amsterdam, Auckland, Bangalore, Beijing, Lagos, London, New York, Newcastle, Taipei, and Toronto.

Paloma Hernaiz and Jaime Oliver (OHLAB architecture and urban strategy, www.ohlab.net) have been organizing Pecha Kucha Madrid since 2007 in different spaces in the city such as the Off-limits gallery, Studio Banana, the Union Room fashion showroom, the Matadero Madrid Contemporary Creation Center, HUB Madrid Center, Colón Tourism Center or UTOPIC_US.

MORE INFORMATION AND LATEST NEWS ABOUT PECHA KUCHA MADRID AT:
www.madpechakucha.org