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'ParaBola' cartoonists look at soccer's other side
A glance askance: âA cartoonistâs reflection is always not ordinary â itâs justifiably extraordinary
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A glance askance: âA cartoonistâs reflection is always not ordinary â itâs justifiably extraordinary.â (JP/P.J. Leo)" border="0" height="400" width="600">A glance askance: âA cartoonistâs reflection is always not ordinary â itâs justifiably extraordinary.â (JP/P.J. Leo)The Red-and-White may not have made it to Brazil, but thatâs not stopping a group of local cartoonists from âparticipatingâ in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Members of the Indonesian Cartoonists Association (Pakarti) are holding an exhibition titled âParabolaâ at the Bentara Budaya Jakarta (BBJ) cultural center in Palmerah, Central Jakarta.
âAlthough our national team has yet to join the competition, we cartoonists are participating by making artworks and holding this exhibition,â said cartoonist Tommy Thomdean, chairman of the exhibition organizing committee.
A total of 74 works and a number of installations by cartoonists from across the archipelago will be shown from June 17 to 22.
Tommy said that there were three categories of cartoons being shown in the exhibition: Editorial cartoons, gag strips and caricature.
âWe sent out invitations to Pakarti members to create artwork with soccer as the main theme. A joint committee between the association and the BBJ then selected from the works that were submitted,â he said.
On display: âWe want to show that cartoons can stand by themselves, without having to accompany an editorial or news text,â said one organizer. (JP/P.J. Leo)
Tommy said that the committee used two main criteria in curating the show. âBecause this is a cartoon, then it has to be funny â it has to have a sense of humor. The second criterion is message: It has to convey a message, be it social or political, to the readers.â
The exhibition is also accompanied by activities including drawing workshops, discussions and business and soccer-themed movie screenings. Admission is free.
Tommy said that the exhibit aims at showing the public that cartoons could be a self-sustaining form of artwork.
âWe want to show that cartoons can stand by themselves, without having to accompany an editorial or news text,â he said. âCartoons can stand in panels outside the newspaper pages or media space.â
Hariadi Saptono, the executive director of BBJ, said the exhibition offered a glimpse into the minds of cartoonists in reflecting the colorful World Cup event from numerous points of view.
âA cartoonistâs reflection is always not ordinary â itâs justifiably extraordinary, thanks to their technical skill and imagination in delivering their idea and visuals,â Hariadi said.
A glance askance: 'A cartoonist's reflection is always not ordinary ' it's justifiably extraordinary.' (JP/P.J. Leo) The Red-and-White may not have made it to Brazil, but that's not stopping a group of local cartoonists from 'participating' in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Members of the Indonesian Cartoonists Association (Pakarti) are holding an exhibition titled 'Parabola' at the Bentara Budaya Jakarta (BBJ) cultural center in Palmerah, Central Jakarta.
'Although our national team has yet to join the competition, we cartoonists are participating by making artworks and holding this exhibition,' said cartoonist Tommy Thomdean, chairman of the exhibition organizing committee.
A total of 74 works and a number of installations by cartoonists from across the archipelago will be shown from June 17 to 22.
Tommy said that there were three categories of cartoons being shown in the exhibition: Editorial cartoons, gag strips and caricature.
'We sent out invitations to Pakarti members to create artwork with soccer as the main theme. A joint committee between the association and the BBJ then selected from the works that were submitted,' he said.
Tommy said that the committee used two main criteria in curating the show. 'Because this is a cartoon, then it has to be funny ' it has to have a sense of humor. The second criterion is message: It has to convey a message, be it social or political, to the readers.'
The exhibition is also accompanied by activities including drawing workshops, discussions and business and soccer-themed movie screenings. Admission is free.
Tommy said that the exhibit aims at showing the public that cartoons could be a self-sustaining form of artwork.
'We want to show that cartoons can stand by themselves, without having to accompany an editorial or news text,' he said. 'Cartoons can stand in panels outside the newspaper pages or media space.'
Hariadi Saptono, the executive director of BBJ, said the exhibition offered a glimpse into the minds of cartoonists in reflecting the colorful World Cup event from numerous points of view.
'A cartoonist's reflection is always not ordinary ' it's justifiably extraordinary, thanks to their technical skill and imagination in delivering their idea and visuals,' Hariadi said.
He added that like the word-play theme of the exhibit, 'Parabola', the artwork on display had levels and gradations of messages, techniques and aesthetics.
'Without an inner 'parabola' ' a big and sensitive artistic antenna, an artist would not be able to produce excellent works of art,' Hariadi said referring to the Indonesian term for a satellite dish.
Anton Sanjoyo, a senior journalist at Kompas newspaper and soccer pundit, said that soccer inspired him to write about sports, honesty and hard work in pursuing life.
'I am truly awed by the works of these cartoonists in viewing soccer. Their works are much sharper, in-your-face and simple, but yet clear in talking about the other side of soccer,' Anton said in his remarks for the event.
At the end of the day, he said, soccer, especially in the form of message-heavy cartoon art, was a short respite from daily life.
'Soccer is a heavenly break that enlightens us that it's not always about winning or losing, but also about smiling and laughing to keep our souls healthy and sane,' Anton said.
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