Jordanian wins Cartoon Spring Competition

Young Jordanian cartoonist Omar Abdallat has been declared the winner of the Cartoon Spring Competition at the Stripdagen Haarlem comic book festival in the Netherlands. A jury of celebrated Arab illustrators gave first prize to his cartoon entitled Freedom Tweet. Arab comics and cartoons are in the spotlight at this year’s festival.

Radio Netherlands Worldwide organised the Cartoon Spring Competition in collaboration with the international Stripdagen Haarlem comics festival and with the support of CartoonMovement, an online platform for professional cartoonists. They gave young Arab cartoonists the opportunity to present their perspective on the Arab Spring to a wide audience.
Read more below the slideshow.

Stripdagen Haarlem has devoted an exhibition to Arab comics. As visitors and journalists arrive at the gallery, illustrators Gihèn ben Mahmoud and Kifah al-Reefi take a look at their work and that of their fellow artists. Visitors come up to talk to Gihèn, full of enthusiasm. ‘A strong woman who draws empowered women who know what they want,’ is how Jurgen Maas of Middle East magazine ZemZem describes her in his opening speech.

Style and vision
Then it’s Gihèn’s turn to address the crowd. On behalf of the jury, she reveals the winner of the Cartoon Spring Competition. The eight cartoons nominated run the gamut in terms of style and vision. While one depicts a people torn between Islamists and the army, another expresses the hope that the young Tunisian man who set himself on fire will ultimately set the entire Arab world alight.

In the eyes of the jury, the cartoon Freedom Tweet by Omar Abdallat stands out for its simplicity, power and distinctiveness. ‘The work is simple in its idea and expression,’ explains Iraqi artist Kifah al-Reefi. ‘Abdallat does not need to resort to unnecessary frills to get his message across. He has his own style.’

New names
Gihèn ben Mahmoud is pleased that Arab comics and cartoons are being given such international exposure. ‘We are all familiar with European work, but few people in Europe know that the Arab world is also home to a whole range of artists,’ she says. ‘This exhibition has taught me something too,’ says Lebanese illustrator Lena Merhej, who arrives later in the evening after a lengthy train delay. ‘I know most of my colleagues here, but I can also see new names.’

They hope that the cartoon competition will help boost new talent. ‘It is important that young cartoonists continue to express what is going on in the world.’
(dd)