Cartoonist Jagadish Kunte firmly believes that cartoons are comforting. “Cartoons may not make an impact on powerful, thick-skinned politicians, but people get some relief from cartoons,” says Jagadish, whose published works are currently on display at the Indian Cartoon Gallery, under the title “Silken Pinches”.
Jagadish Kunte currently works as a cartoonist with the Marathi newspaper Tarun Bharat . His cartoons have been published in the Indian Express, Newslink, Pudhari, Navaprabha, Jatra and Marmik . “Most of my cartoons are based on political and social events. I see so much contradiction around me in society and in politics,” he explains.
His cartoons are largely satirical, and convey the message through conversations between the characters. But a sincere cause almost always shines through the humour. For instance, in one of his cartoons, he draws two politicians walking towards the Parliament where one is saying to the other: “We must indulge in more scams this year, if we don't want to remember last year as a ‘year of scams'”.
Another witty cartoon shows a politician called Administration sitting on the shoulders of the demonic creature named Corruption looking into the mirror. But in the mirror, the creature is seen sitting on the politician's shoulders. The caption reads: “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall”.
In another titled “Auction of Bapuji's Belongings”, he draws two packages: one titled “Satya” and the other “Ahimsa”. The salesman tells a passer-by, “The chappal, and the walking stick sold out like hot cakes. But there are no takers for…” pointing towards the packages. “I use light humour and satire to point out the anomalies in society. Every cartoon has a message to give out. It's like a sugar-coated pill where a serious message is covered by humour,” he points out.
“Silken Pinches” will be on view until March 31 at the Indian Cartoon Gallery, No.1, Midford House, Midford Garden, Off M.G. Road, near Big Kids Kemp. For details, call 41758540.
Lines become strokes
Meanwhile, it's all about an individual's thoughts and feelings at the Renaissance Gallerie. In the latest exhibition, the gallery is showcasing works by Badri Narayan, Alexandra Ekdahl and Yashwant Shirwadkar.
Badri Narayan's works are limited to drawings in pen and ink, each imploring the viewer to seek out the stories behind them. That seems quite clear in works like “The Enigma of the Empty Chest” where he draws a bald man in woman, interacting with a mermaid about an empty chest under a tree, all on the surface of a body of water.
All his characters, be it in the other works like “Shadow of the Monk” or “The Young Couple” are composed of clean, sterile strokes. But the objects around them (as random as a vase or a potted plant) and sometimes their expressions incite the viewer's curiosity.
Swedish photographer Alexandra Ekdahl's soft-lighted portraits are beautiful and imaginative. She captures the carefree innocence of a child and the delicate, sensual and majestic beauty of a woman in different photographs. Her gold patches set against a reddish-brown grainy texture add more charm.
“My photographs are put together digitally and printed on art paper. Then I used leaf gold and sandpaper,” explains Alexandra, “I am not sure if I can put worlds on what I'm trying to communicate through my pictures, except that they communicate my feelings.”
The exhibition also features a series of paintings of what appears to be Benarasi ghats by Yashwant Shirwadkar.
The exhibition will be on view at the Renaissance Gallerie, off Cunningham Road, until March 23.
For details, contact 22202232.
