p1k53l (piksel) is a workshop for artists and developers working with open-source software for realtime processing of video and sound. It will take place at BEK - the Bergen Centre for Electronic Art, in Bergen, Norway 3.-9. november 2003.

The last couple of years we have seen a blooming development in the field of 'realtime media'. An increasing number of artists are exploring non-linear narratives and interactivity as methods for new possibilities of expression. The tools that has been available in this field has up until now been proprietary and expensive software for Windows and MacOS with limited possibilities for the artists to change their basic functionality. In 2002 BEK started the development of a new software for realtime processing of video called MøB. MøB is based on several new ideas and principles compared to existing software, most notably the fact that it's developed under GNU/Linux and made available as open source.

The first week of november 2003, BEK will arrange a worklab utilising this software. At first we thought it should be an introduction for more artists and developers who wanted to use and further develop MøB. But as we started to organize the event, it soon developed into something that has the potential to be a very important international event. There are by now several projects being developed for realtime video-processing under GNU/Linux, but so far the people involved have not been able to meet and syncronize their work. For the first time there is a possibility for a loosely connected group of creative individuals to come together for mutual exchange of ideas and to further develop their common interest.This has led to a huge interest for the worklab, and so far we have participants coming from England, Holland, Belgia, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Japan, USA and Norway.

p1K53l is supported by PNEK, Bergen Kommune, Vestnorsk Filmsenter, Kunsthøgskolen in Bergen dep The Academy of Fine Arts, and  Norsk Kulturfond.