PLASTIK* a Lebanese visual pioneer

PLASTIK* a Lebanese visual pioneer

By Admin I : To be honest, it was a love at first sight. I got my hands on Plastik* in its 2nd issue, and everything dazzled me and made me a loyal reader (until few months ago). Plastik* is a Lebanese visual magazine, featuring a wide selection of topics from fashion, design, art and music with a fresh art direction and an exclusive well thought of photography.

Talking design, Plastik* is designed to have a strong presence with a heavy use of fluorescent colors and a tactical reach for pastels, an energetic layout and themed issues complemented by the most interesting masthead (logo) that helped the magazine build an impressive reputation in the market, being the first to present a creative visual solution, and fill an empty creative space, and that was before the flow of Plastik* wannabe magazines.

Being a party pooper myself, I cannot deny that the publication went through ups and downs, or what i thought were “hangovers” after every huge success. Some issues tried to reach a wider market by featuring an Arab celebrity, while others went all the way elite. Some issues, were taken “à la légère” with numerous retouching flaws (Plastik13) and many typography weaknesses (ligatures specifically) as well as a monotonous style that sometimes felt “dejà fait”.

Despite all the imperfections, we salute this magazine’s journey, especially that it’s a Lebanese visual pioneer, art directed and designed by Lebanese talents, a point that should be a subject of further investigation, by a more “local” Plastik*, simply because the magazine reached international markets 2 issues ago, and should find its unique selling proposition to compete with international publications, which could briefly be a more authentic approach, with minor international tweaking because In the end:

WE ARE PLASTIK*
AND PLASTIK IS REAL
Plastik is a real creative collective
of imagery and thought,
and whatever the Fu*k we want.
And that’s what makes Plastik such a fantastic publication.
Well that,
and the fact that a plastic tan never fades*
Just ask Barbie,
that bitch has everything!
And if anything,
we are always learning that there is always something new under the sun,
with every issue we put together.
And with every issue that comes out
we understand more and more
that Plastik is a state of mind.
It is the mind in a state of perpetual beauty, void of vanity.
It is the tendencies, and glamour of fashion,
minus the icons and designer names.
It is that lost trail of thoughts between
the artist and the artwork,
the camera lens and the light,
the writer and the muse.
But we lied to you when we said
that Plastik is a fantastic publication.

Clearly it is beyond*

Proud, and truly rethinking of filling the gap in my Plastik* collection with the 2 latest issues that proved to be worth more than “a love at first sight”!