The Japan Foundation, Manila and the SM Supermalls, in cooperation with the Japanese Association in Northern Luzon, Inc. (JANL), Baguio Centennial Commission (BCC), and the Embassy of Japan, present the “11th Asian Cartoon Exhibition: Asian Youth Culture 2009”from Feb. 2 to 15 at SM City Baguio; Feb. 18 to 27 at SM Megamall; and Feb. 28 to March 15 at SM Mall of Asia.
The traveling exhibit, which officially opens on Feb. 1 at SM City Baguio, will showcase 75 works produced by 10 leading cartoonists from Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines depicting youth’s culture in their respective nations for entertainment as well as for promoting awareness o f Asian commonalities and diversity.
Representing the Philippines is Philippine STAR cartoonist Lyndon Gregorio.
The featured Japanese cartoonist is Nobuyuki Kohmasu, a.k.a. Suu Kohma, a political cartoons illustrator for the Hokkaido Shimbun and Sankei Shimbun. Some of his works include the four-cut cartoon “Himawari-Kun (Little Sunflower Cop),” “Ohnaa-kun (Little Owner),” among others.
“Himawari-kun” was also made into TV and cartoon-book forms, “Banchou-kun (Little School Gang Leader)” and many other works were also published as cartoon books.
The other cartoonists are Shishir Bhatta-charjee, political cartoonist of the Bengali daily newspaper Prothom Alo; Xia Dachuan, freelance illustrator and contributor of the cartoon strip “Kartun Benny and Mice” and Kompas, Indonesia’s major vernacular daily; Kosin Srilidtipradit, cartoonist of the vernacular newspaper Matichon; Le Anh Phong (a.k.a. Lap), cartoonist for the vernacular humorous youth newspaper and magazine, Tuoi Tre Cuoi; Hapuwalanage Don Ariyadasa (a.k.a. Dasa Hapuwalanage), political cartoonist of the Lankadeepa, Sinhala-language daily who is also a recipient of an Excellent Award for Illustrative Drawing (1992 and 1995), and Journalism Awards for Excellence (Cartoonist of the Year, 2004 and 2005).
Other participants include Mohd Tazidi bin Yusof (a.k.a. Tazidi), former cartoonist of cartoon magazine Gila-Gila. He’s the creative director of Craftsmen of Soliloquy Sdn. Bhd, an event company.
He also won the Best Selections award at the Philip Morris Art Competition (1998).
The Japan Foundation has been holding “The Asian Cartoon Exhibition” (one-cut and multi-cut cartoons) annually since 1995 for the purpose of capturing Asian society, culture and customs of daily life through the medium.
The “11th Asian Cartoon Exhibit” is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. For inquiries, call 811-6155 to 58 or visit www.jfmo.org.ph.