Cartoon exhibition brings humor and insight<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Cok Tong is
\nsitting behind his desk. On his left side, a glass showcase
\ndisplays... Yes, former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew himself. A
\npanel on the right side of the showcase reads: \"In case of
\nemergency break the glass\".<\/p>\n
Such is the sharpness, creativity and sense of humor of
\nSingaporean cartoonist Heng Kim Song, whose cartoons are now on
\ndisplay in the ongoing 15-day 1995 ASEAN and Japan Cartoon
\nExhibition, which opened last Friday at Galeri Pasar Seni in
\nTaman Impian Jaya Ancol, North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
No less than 358 cartoons, drawn by Indonesian cartoonists
\ngrouped in the Indonesian Cartoonists Association, cartoonists
\nfrom other ASEAN countries -- except Brunei -- and Japan, are
\nfeatured in the exhibition. The exhibition is organized by the
\nJapan Foundation in conjunction with the current 1995 Japan-
\nIndonesia Friendship Festival.<\/p>\n
Six cartoons that won top prizes at this year's National
\nCartoon Competition, whose theme was \"Living in harmony in the
\nworld\", are also on display.<\/p>\n
The first-prize cartoon by Muchid Rachmat, of the so-called
\nKaliwungu Cartoonists Village in Semarang, Central Java, is not
\nonly good in terms of drawing quality, but also rich in ideas.<\/p>\n
Muchid drew a black-and-white cartoon showing a indistinct
\nscene of a crowded city, seen from above. In the center of the
\ndrawing is a colored part depicting a house complete with a blue-
\nwatered swimming pool and very green garden, surrounded by a high
\ncement wall, which makes it resemble a palace in the center of a
\ndry city.<\/p>\n
Inside the wall is a living-in-harmony sight. However,
\ncombined with its surroundings, it speaks more of a gap between
\nlife inside and outside the wall and, as a whole, it contradicts
\nthe theme of harmonious living.<\/p>\n
Creativity is the key word in producing good cartoons.<\/p>\n
Japan's Yamanoi Norio proves that with creativity, simplicity
\ncan be turned into a good and humorous cartoon. From a distance,
\nNorio's cartoon looks like a Japanese flag, a white background
\nwith a red circle in the middle. But, take a closer look, and you
\nwill see a man holding the circle from underneath. The message:
\nIt's hard to be a Japanese. The proof? The man looks exhausted
\nand miserable, because the circle has become a burden.<\/p>\n
Inspiration can also be obtained from events in society. Lee
\nHup Kheng knows this well and uses it for his cartoon entitled
\nAnd behind me is the famous Michael Fay's cane. Lee drew a group
\nof tourists looking at a cane stored in a glass box, with a guide
\nexplaining that it is the cane used to whip American teenager
\nMichael Fay in 1994. Fay was convicted of vandalism by the
\nSingapore Court.<\/p>\n
A collage cartoon made by an artist from the Sarana Adhi Yasa
\nStudio is interesting. It depicts a scene from a soccer match.
\nThe uniqueness of the scene is that all the players are actually
\na collage of cigarette butts and the sky above the soccer field
\nis black from the smoke. The cartoon criticizes, albeit in a
\nhumorous way, the smoking habit and refers to cigarette
\nmanufacturers who often sponsor soccer championships.<\/p>\n
A powerful satire is produced by a cartoon from Budi Ryanto.
\nIn a very fine black-and-white line drawing, Budi drew an old
\nwoman lighting an oil lamp, while behind her is drawn a flash of
\nlightning, which is also the symbol of the state-owned
\nelectricity company PLN.<\/p>\n
The cartoons on display from Indonesia represent, in general,
\nsome form of protest. Almost every sphere of life can be drawn
\ninto a cartoon, whether it is about the environment, politics or
\neducation. Indonesian cartoonists displaying their cartoons have
\nproven their great talents and creativity. Senior cartoonists
\nlike G.M. Sidharta, of the Kompas daily, T. Sutanto, Priyanto,
\nPramono and Sudi Purnomo show their good quality and entertaining
\npieces. Those representing the younger generation and lesser
\nknown are also promising a good future in Indonesian cartoons.<\/p>\n
However, cartoons are not yet popular among Indonesians. One
\nindication is that only 360 cartoons were submitted to the
\nnational cartoon competition. Cartoons have yet to play a greater
\nrole in the country and should get more attention from all. (als)<\/p>",
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