Cartoons can be tellingly serious. And at the Museum Auditorium here, they tackle a serious issue head-on. Cartoonist Harikumar’s exhibition underscores the perils of alcoholism, effectively delivers the message to viewers.
The exhibition, titled Cartoon Therapy for Alcohol Addicts, was inaugurated by Minister for Fisheries, Ports, and Excise K. Babu on Thursday. It features 30 hilarious and thought-provoking illustrations.
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A drunken man asks warrior saint Parasurama with a pronounced slur whether he created the State by throwing bottles. Another illustration has a vehicle pleading with its inebriated owner not to be on the wheel.
“I consider this an opportunity to combine my love for drawing with my desire to deliver a message to society. The ideas portrayed in the cartoons can create fear among the public about alcoholism which has become the bane of our society,” he said. Mr. Kumar said that once he decided to use his skills to portray social issues, sketching political cartoons became secondary.
“We have many cartoonists for that genre. I wanted to connect with people. Children are captivated by cartoons and I hope to display these works in schools and colleges so that they serve as deterrents,” he said.
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“Alcoholism has shattered many families, including those of my friends,” he said, explaining the reason for the exhibition.