Romanian cartoonist Gheorghita Ghinea - URIASU passed away

Romanian cartoonist Gheorghita Ghinea - URIASU passed away (1956-2008)
The Romanian cartoonist Gheorghita Ghinea - URIASU (the giant) passed away at the age of 52 of heart attack on 28 October 2008. He lived and worked in Plopeni, a city near Ploiesti. He was an excellent press cartoonist and a painter. He published over 7,000 cartoons in several newspapers and magazines and he won many prizes in competitions. In 2008 he was awarded with the Prize for Cartoon of the Romanian Press Club, the biggest recognition of a press cartoonist in the country.
This report by Florian-Doru Crihana fdcrihana@yahoo.com

THE SIMILARITY IN WORLD CARTOONING by VLADIMIR KAZANEVSKY

THE SIMILARITY IN WORLD CARTOONING

by VLADIMIR KAZANEVSKY

"New" cartoons with the dominating of images without support of verbal have arisen in the thirtieth years of the twentieth century in the USA and in France. The founders of "new" cartoons were O. Soglou, S. Steinberg, J.M. Bosc, J.M. Folon.
Worrying signs of deep crisis in the "new" cartoon appeared in recent years. The main feature is the emergence of a large number of cartoons-clones or "secondary" cartoons. There were discussions, which of the "secondary" cartoons can be considered plagiarism, and which simply random coincidence. Plagiarism in the art can take a simple theft. Frequent cases matches are characteristic sign of the crisis in the "new" cartoon.
One indicator of the crisis in the "new" cartoons is discontinuing the Yomiuri International Cartoon Contest. Officially announced, that "contest has already made a significant contribution to the development of manga culture since it started in 1979. During its history of more than a quarter century, the number of cartoon entries received totalled 289,554." Two years before the closure of the contest in the newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun were published the article "Yomiuri International Cartoon Contest: New perspective may lead to fresh ideas" by Professor Masashi Ueda.
The article stated that more and more artists send to the competition cartoons such as those who previously had success. However, the author pointed out, one of the cartoons submitted for the competition, proved so unusual, grotesque, almost all members of the jury voted for awarding the author of Gold Prize of Free Event-Section. In the cartoon, monkeys hang from trees by their hands, while a man hangs from a tree by his brain. The author concluded that "this may reflect our belief that Yomiuri International Cartoon Contest is entering an era of change. I think the contest will receive more cartoons that include free and fresh ideas". But after two years this contest came to an end.
To speak convincingly about the crisis of "new" cartoons, will try to analyse the "essential" characteristics of cartoons. Cartoon can be seen in terms of visual images, which built its "semantic content". Interesting are also the philosophical, social and other messages that the audience receives by this cartoon. You can also consider methods that were used in the process of creating "comical effect" of the cartoons.
Let’s consider the imaging world of "new" cartoons. "Semantic content" of most cartoons based on the usual for spectators images, at the same time, "convenient" for the creation of "comic effects". Thus are the literary heroes (Don Quixote.), heroes of animation and cinema (Mickey Mouse., Charlie Chaplin.), paintings (Mona Lisa.), architectural structures (Tower of Pisa.) and many others. In addition, there are also stereotypical situations, such as man on desert island, man in the desert, a lover in the cupboard. And here it is necessary to notice that the number of "convenient" to create a cartoon images are not infinitely.
Each cartoon bears a certain message to the spectator. Quite often such messages are based on current information. For example, currently "fashionable" topics for cartoonists are the threat of terrorism in the world, global warming, etc.
The creative process of establishing a "semantic content" of cartoon is subordinated to the certain laws. The act of creation studied well enough (Koestler, A. 1964). For example, there is a two-stage model for the appreciation of jokes and cartoons (Suls, J. 1972). Very interesting is An Affordance Theory Analysis of Cartoon Humor by Dean H. Owen (1988). Basic concepts of conceptual integration theory (Fauconnier & Turner, 1994; 1998) include mental spaces, frames, or cultural models, and mappings. The research by Alan F. Blackwell and T.R.G. Green (1999) suggests that graphical metaphor should increase the usability of visual programming languages by providing an instructional aid when learning to use the language. General Theory of Verbal Humor by S. Attardo and V. Raskin (1991) means joke similarity. We can use the main ideas of this great theory for cartoon art with success, etc. Methods for creating cartoons are fairly universal.
During the development of art of a "new" cartoon have been created "primary" works. Combinations of the above elements of creative processes such as images, methods and messages lead to creation by beginner cartoonists "secondary" works. First of all this concerned creativity of artists from China, Iran, Indonesia and others, where "new" cartoon originated relatively recently.
Does this mean that the crisis in the art of cartooning will go deeper? And are there a ways out of crisis? Of course there is. As noted by Professor Masashi Ueda, "New perspective may lead to fresh ideas". Attempts to create new images in cartoons, the original messages, embodied in the cartoons, the search of unusual methods of creating of "comic effects" may allow other ways the development of "new" cartoons.
(Source: Yeni Akrep (New Scorpion) October 2008 Issue: 74)

THE GOLDEN SMILE – Accompanying exhibition-contest – BELGRADE 2008

THE GOLDEN SMILE – Accompanying exhibition-contest – BELGRADE 2008
The 6th International Biennial of Caricature, December, 2008
Theme of the exhibition: TRADITION AND PROGRESS
Accompanying exhibition-contest: portrait caricature of Branislav Nušić (1864-1938), famous Serbian comedy writer in occasion of jubileum of writers death. The best caricature will be awarded by a Special prize and diploma.
Deadline: November, 10th, 2008.
Address:
ULUPUDS (»The Golden Smile«)
Terazije 26/II, 11000 Beograd, Serbia
(To avoid custom problems, please write DOCUMENT, NO VALUE on the envelope)
or by e-mail:
http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=ulupuds@beotel.rs
(JPG 300 dpi, max. A4)
For all the further information please contact
ULUPUDS, Tel/fax: +381 11 268 57 80
e-mail: http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=ulupuds@beotel.rs or http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jugoslav@nin.co.yu
ULUPUDS web presentation: http://www.ulupuds.org.rs/

Results Second International City Complexities Cartoon Contest 2008

Results of the Second International City Complexities Cartoon Contest 2008 - Iran

The Jury:

Erdogan Karayel / Turkey, Julian Pena Pai / Romania, Mikhail Zlatkovsky / Russia, Cristobal Reinoso / Argentina, and Bozorgmehr Hosseinpour, Firouzeh Mozafari, Bahman Abdi from Iran.

WINNERS

First Prize: Angel Boligan - Mexico

Second Prize: Jitet Kustana - Indonesia

Third Prize: Mahmood Nazari - Iran

Honorable Mentions:
Dachuan Xia - China

Cau Gomez - Brazil
Navid Sharifi - Iran
Paulo Volmar Mattos - Brazil
Emre Ozdemir - Turkey
Agim Sulaj - Albania
Ares - Cuba
Carlos David - Cuba
Mohammad Amin Aghaei - Iran

Tawan Chuntra - Thailand.

All prize-winning cartoons

Winning ceremonial Humorest 2008

Winning ceremonial Humorest - VII. cartoons biennale Hradec Kralove, Czech rep.; 16.10.2008

Photo: Winners (left to right): Lubomir Lichy (Czech rep.); Miroslav Bartak (Czech rep.); Valentin Georgiev (Bulgaria); Ivan Popovic (Slovakia).

Humorest 2008 Hradec Králové - Czech rep. Thema – "2"
Winners:
1. Prize: Miroslav Bartak (Czech rep.)

2. Prize: Valentin Georgiev (Bulgarien)
3. Prize: Lubomir Lichy (Czech rep.)
Jury Prize:
Gustav Gusttavo Olivera (Brazil)

Ivan Popovic (Slovakia)
Igor Sevcik Prize(Best graphic cartoon): Angel Boligan (Mexico).

More prize-winning cartoons

Results 1st International Cartoon Festival on Retrofitting - Iran

The result of the 1st international cartoon festival on Retrofitting (Professional section):

The 1st prize winner: Volmar Mattos Vilanova (Brazil)

The 2nd prize winner: Hicabi Demirci (Turkey)

The 3rd prize winner: Omer Cam (Turkey)

The juries prize: Naser Moghadam (Iran)

Selected Works:
- Mohsen Asadi (Iran)
- Fardin Mirzaeyan (Iran) (Also the winner of the Tabriz cartoon museum's special prize)
- Jamal Rahmati (Iran)
- Valentin Druzhinin (Russia)
- Abas Ryazi (Iran)
- Dragostinov (Bulgaria)
- Vladimir Kazanevsky (Russia)
- Abas Naseri (Iran)
- Onder Onerbay (Turkey)
- Jaber Asadi (Iran) (Also the winner of the Iran cartoon house's special prize)

Honorable mentions :
- Oleg Loktyev (Russia)
- Shirin GholiPour (Iran)
- Zhu Cheng (China)
- Parisa HosseinZadeh (Iran)
- Atila Ozer (Turkey)
- Mohammad Ali Khaleji (Iran)
- Spiro Radulovic (Serbia)
- Mahdiyeh Sabaghkar (Iran)
- Umit Mufit (Turkey)
- Makhmudjon Eshonkulov (Uzbekistan)
- Anneke Van Steijn (The Netherlands).
Source: http://www.rahimcartoon.com/en/index.php

FECO Website is renewed!

FECO Website is renewed!

New features are added to the website; such as contests blacklist, categorized cartoon contests, protected part to publish your articles and artworks, etc.:

http://www.fecocartoon.com/

And here is what they write about the renewed website in the summary report of their meeting in St Just le Martel, France on October 4th, 2008:

There will be no password anymore. The FECO site will be restyled by Alban & Bouton. Easily to read. FECO logo in blue. Flags & logo’s. Heads of chiefs. Links to members and all other known cartoon sites. We keep it simple. We do not have the money nor the people to build a spectacular site. The star rating system will be on the site, as well as information about festivals. The ‘moving’ page will be: “What happened this month?” (with up-to-date news, pictures and cartoons). More news will follow.

On-line voting for the PortoCartoon 2008 until 31st December

On-line voting for the PortoCartoon 2008 until 31st December

Dear Cartoonist,
We are very pleased to inform you that is open the on-line voting for the PortoCartoon 2008 .
The public can choose its favourite cartoon, independently of the choice of the jury of this festival. People all around the world can vote in the Cartoon Virtual Museum (http://www.cartoonvirtualmuseum.org/f_portocartoon_2008_vote.htm).
42 artists are in contest, and each cartoon can be seen in detail.
The candidates are the awarded, the honourable mentions and the finalist ones of the 10th PortoCartoon-World Festival.
The voting is open on the Portuguese Printing Press Museum and on the Cartoon Virtual Museum until 31st December.
Your vote is very important for the better decision!
With my very best regards
Luís Humberto Marcos
Director.

(The author with more votes from the public will be invited for an individual exhibition in 2009)

8th International Contest of Ecological Graphic Humor - EcoCartoons PERU 2008

8th International Contest of Ecological Graphic Humor - EcoCartoons PERU 2008

The Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru and the Grupo de Apoyo al Sector Rural convokes to the Eighth International Contest of Ecological Graphical Humor ECOCARTOONS 2008 with the subject Global Warming. Caricaturists, graphic artists in general, amateurs and professionals from all over the world can participate; also, there is no age limit for the contestants.
1.The works must reflect ideas related to the subject of Global Warming.

2.The artistic criteria that will be considered for the evaluation, is based on a representation of humor or aesthetically obtained satire, whose language can be direct or symbolic.

3.The technique is totally free.

4.Each participant can present an unlimited number of works that must be sent by any of this two ways:

Via mail: format A4 (21 X 30 cm). Send works to:

GRUPO PUCP - ECOCARTOONS Av. Universitaria 1801 LIMA 32 - PERU

Via e-mail: JPEG format with 300 DPI of resolution. Send to: ecocartoons@pucp.edu.pe

The winners that send their works by e-mail will be notified to resend by mail the original picture to the address

GRUPO PUCP - ECOCARTOONS Av. Universitaria 1801 LIMA 32 - PERU

5.The works must not contain textual elements. In the reverse of the work must be indicated the information about the author: name, local address, country, E-mail or Website.

6.With the delivery of their work, each participant confirms the acceptance of the bases of the contest. The works will become part of the exhibition that will be made on the day of the awards ceremony, as well as publications and part of itinerary exhibitions in cities of Peru and in different countries. All these works will become part of the museum of ecological graphic humor of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru.

7.The jury will be integrated by members of the sponsor institutions and enterprises, event organizers and the best representative personalities of graphic humor in our country. The decisions of the jury cannot be appealable.

8.The deadline for sending works is October 30. The winners will be announced on November 13, in an official ceremony at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru. The organizers of the event will inform the winners by telephone, e-mail or through their respective embassies or consulates.

9.The post delivery of the works must be in flat packages. Do not roll or bend your works. They must not be put in frames or glass. The organizers do not assume responsibility for the damage that can be caused by the delivery. Also, the delivery costs will be afforded by the sender. Local post register on the stamp will be considered in the deadline. After that date, works will be refused.

10.Prizes:

First Prize: US$ 1,000.00 and honor diploma

Second Prize: US$ 500.00 and honor diploma

Third Prize: US$ 250.00 and honor diploma.

Results of the 6th International Cartoon Contest KARPIK 2008, Poland

Grand Prix: Pol Leurs - Luxembourg (Above)
Three Equivalent Prizes:
Pawel Kuczynski - Poland
Bartlomiej Bielniak - Poland
Jacek Lanckoronski - Poland
Honors:
Iwan Anchukov - Russia
Igor Nikitin - Russia
Jurij Kosobukin - Ukraine
Vladimir Kazanevsky - Ukraine
Marek Gliwa - Poland
Special Prize of "Ornament" Company:
Wiktor Goriaczko - Poland
Jury:
Miroslaw Hajnos - Chairman
Jacek Frackiewicz
Michal Graczyk
Wojciech Kwiecinski
Malgorzat Biedron.

VIII Salon of Humour «Santa Clara 2008» - Cuba

VIII Salon de Humor y el 40 aniversario de MELAITO - Cuba

BASES EN INGLES: The humorous publication Melaito and the Cuban Writers and Artists Union (UNEAC) convoke to the VIII Humour Hall «Santa Clara 2008», this issue dedicated to the 40 years of Melaito, and for the first time with international range. BASIS

The themes should be: free theme and erotic theme. The dimensions of the works should be up to 25 x 35 cm as maximum, in any technique or mounting. Three dimensional works will not exceed 50 cm in any of its sides. The works will be received until November 30th 2008 at: Casa de la UNEAC, Máximo Gómez 107, entre Julio Jover y Martí, Santa Clara, Villa Clara, CP 50100 CUBA Foreign partakers and abroad Cuban residents can send their works by email, with a 300 dpi resolution to: 40melaito@gmail.com PRIZES Three prizes will be granted in each category and all the recognitions considered by the jury. 1st Prize: 2.000 Cuban pesos and diploma 2nd Prize: 1.300 Cuban pesos and diploma 3rd Prize: 800 Cuban pesos and diploma The jury will be formed by prestigious Cuban cartoonists and their pronouncement will be out of query. Laureate foreigners will receive a canvas by the award-winning artist Juan Ramón González (Yiki) and a diploma, these will be sent to them in a safe manner. A meeting of the outstanding Cuban cartoonists will take place between the days 18 and 20 of December, who will paint a collective mural against terrorism and dedicated to cartoonist Gerardo Hernández Nordelo and his comrades wrongfully imprisoned in the United States of America. The opening of the exhibition and awards will be on December 20th of 2008 at 3. 00 pm. in the UNEAC house in Villa Clara.

That same day a group of founders and specially the Cuban cartoonist of great trajectory René de la Nuez, Plastic Arts National Prize, who played an decisive roll in the beginning of Melaito, will be honoured by this publication and the UNEAC. For further information about this summons call 202661. Organizing committee.