Behind-the-Scenes: Pedro X. Molina
September 27, 2017
Check out how this cartoon by Pedro X. Molina about Trump’s hate speeches is made using an iPad:
Check out how this cartoon by Pedro X. Molina about Trump’s hate speeches is made using an iPad:
Riham Elhour is a cartoonist from Morocco. Working as a cartoonist since 2000; in 2016, BBC included her in a list of 100 inspirational and influential women.
Egyptian cartoonist and CM-member Sherif Arafa has won and award in the 14th edition of the Taryam and Abdullah Omran Journalism Awards for his cartoons published in the Al Ittihad newspaper.
In addition to being a cartoonist, Sherif is also a successful author of psychology books, which he illustrates himself. His latest book, 'Human after update' is currently the #1 bestseller in Egypt for the third month in a row.
Cartoonists responds to what they see in the news. When different news sources tell different stories, these stories are reflected in cartoons. In this case, international cartoonists clash with cartoonists from Myanmar over the Rohingya crisis.
Our cartoonists have been drawing many cartoons on the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar in the past few weeks. As criticism of Aung San Suu Kyi mounted, cartoons began the mirror this criticism, for instance by making references to the Nobel Peace prize she won in 1991. Other cartoonists contrasted Buddhism, usually perceived as a very peaceful religion, with the violent military campaign against the Rohingya. All these perspectives come from international cartoonists, who base themselves on international news sources:
Moroccan cartoonist Naji Benaji criticizes Aung San Suu Kyi's silence.
Amorim from Brazil draws Aung San Suu Kyi in a sea of blood, sitting on an island made of her Nobel Peace Prize.
Extremist Buddhists, by Omar Abdallat from Jordan.
Buddha is blindfolded in this cartoon by Mehedi Haque from Bangladesh.
The cartoonists from Myanmar tell an entirely different story with their cartoons, based on local news sources. On Facebook, well-known Myanmar cartoonist Kyaw Thu Yein calls for solidarity, asking cartoonists to stand against terrorism, and stating that international cartoonists focusing on genocide and human rights breaches in Myanmar are basing themselves on fake news. In cartoons from Myanmar, the country is under threat of terrorism and of this fake news:
Myanmar under attack by the ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army), in this cartoon by Kyaw Thu Yein.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been silent becasue she is in a tight spot, says Lai Lone
People are held hostage by terrorists misusing social media, according to Lai Lone.
The current situation of Rakhine State in Myanmar, according to Aung Thein Htike, where news on international media is basically a deceitful act of terrorists.
We do not presume to know the truth of the situation, and can only emphasize the need for reliable media in the age of fake news.
Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy (or Tanmoy) is editorial cartoonist for Dhaka Tribune in Bangladesh. He’s been working as an editorial cartoonist for 8 years. Most recently, his work has focused on the Rohingya tragedy in Myanmar: ‘Being in such close proximity to the horrors of the Rohingya issue I'm personally quite moved and am feeling the responsibility to do something.’ He’s created a series of cartoons, which you can see here.
The Caen Memorial and United Sketches (founded by Iranian cartoonist and CM member Kianoush Ramezani) have launched a new award for cartoonists, The International Human Rights Cartoon Award.
The award is open to press cartoonists from all over the globe ‘committed to the defence of human rights’ and has only one topic : the defence of human rights.
Cartoons can be submitted between 11 September and 30 November, and can be awarded with one of four prizes, with prize money ranging from 1000€ to 3000€.
Visit this link for the competition regulations in English.
Jordan cartoonist and CM member Osama Hajjaj has won 1st prize in the 1st International Cartoon Contest, Morocco 2017 with the cartoon pictured above. The theme of the contest was Hello Africa.
Josua Cabrera is another cartoonist hailing from Cebu city in the Philippines, just like Bern Fabro, introduced on this blog last week. The two cartoonists also work for the same newspaper, the Sun Star Cebu.
An exhibition of original drawings by Iranian cartoonist and CM member Kianoush Ramezani will be on display in Normandy, France, between September 15 and November 2.
The drawings were created as part of an art residency at the Caen Memorial and reflect on the theme ‘resistance’ in this era and in our daily lives.
For more information, visit Kianoush’s website.