Art form that delivers a bold and purposeful social, political and economic message

CAIRO: In light of the technological development and the spread of social media, the caricature industry is facing modern challenges shown in popular censorship and audience reactions to published work. However, media decreased its attention to this journalistic art, which sarcastically simplifies stances and views to audience. Caricature is a rendered image, which shows the features of its subject in a simplified or exaggerated way through varied artistic drawings. This art delivers a bold and purposeful social, political and economic message to correct mistakes in the society and shed light on key issues to address them. Before the spread of social media, the art of cartoon was managed by editors-in-chief of newspapers, and they were the only people who decide which caricature is published. However, any cartoonist can nowadays post his works on his official account on social media, and these works are widely attracted by a large number of social media users.

Some Kuwaiti artists took part in the sixth edition of the International Forum of Caricature which took place in Cairo recently in an attempt to maintain cartoon's features in light of difficulties facing this art, amid the reluctance of audience to print newspapers. On the sidelines of the forum, head of Kuwait Cartoon Society Mohammad Thalab said that caricature is not only related to politics, but also to many issues in society. Cartoonists offer a better content in print newspapers due to the official censorship, unlike social media, he noted.

Meanwhile, deputy head of the society Sarah Al-Noumas, said one of difficulties facing caricature is the low turnout of audience to cartoon exhibitions and activities, in addition to the little attention to this art. "Cartoonists are bold and do not complement. This makes some believe that the artists use their brushes as a weapon of direct attack on people," Noumas said. She added that the artist highlights local issues through images, provided that the red lines are not crossed. - KUNA