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The Israeli Cartoon Museum in Holon starts off 2010 with "The Way 2009 was" – the traditional annual exhibit of the Association of Israeli Cartoonist, headed by illustrator and cartoonist Michel Kichka. The exhibition curator is Dan Patir, former media consultant of late Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Menahem Begin.
"The Way 2009 was" exhibit will include approximately 150 works of 35 Israeli cartoonists, and form a colorful and satirical summary of 2009, referring to the main local and international events that took place during 2009.
2009 was a year in which journalist Amos Keinan and Meir (Mike) Ronen passed away. Both Keinan and Ronen were very fond of the art of cartooning and invested much effort in glorifying it. Several cartoonists have dedicated their works – which are to be presented at the exhibit – to these artists. In addition, the exhibit will include cartoons drawn by Amos Keinan and obtained from his private collection.
Among the works to be on display at the exhibit: the inauguration of President Obama; Waltz with Bashir not winning the Oscar; Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaking at the Durban Review Conference; Pope Benedict XVI visiting Israel; King of the Pop Michael Jackson passing away; Businesswoman Shari Arison communicating with higher beings; the 2009 gay center shooting in Tel Aviv; Lev Levayev announcing financial difficulties; Madonna performing in Israel; Israeli Professor Ada Yonath from Weizman Institute winning Nobel Prize in Chemistry; President Peres celebrating his 86th birthday and many more.
Curator Dan Patir says that "this year's harvest was very rich and varied, in terms of the opinions, positions, styles, techniques, innovation and experience, lightness on the one hand and in-depth approach to human circles in society on the other. The artists do not allow us – and rightfully so – to live and behave as though we were living on a lonely island. Whatever happens nearby, and beyond the immediate and more distant border, is rightfully presented at the 2009 display, which sets even higher creative standards for 2010.
Michel Kichka, the president of the Israeli Cartoonists Association (ICA) says that "when the exhibit curator receives the material submitted by all
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Amos Ellenbogen (Click to enlarge)
the cartoonists he can observe the accurate status of the national and international agenda; still, since the museum is not physically capable of containing all the works and the visitors cannot digest such a great amount of paintings, the curator is required to use the ultimate weapon: the great screen. Just like in of gold panning, the largest and most precious gold nuggets remain on the pan. By placing all the nuggets side by side at the Holon Cartoon Museum, the exhibit, figuratively speaking, turns into a high-value gold bullion.
The opening event will include the award of the Gold Pencil Prize to Cartoonist Shiloh and an opening of his individual exhibit, named "Cartoonist 24 Hours a Day" at the Israeli Cartoon Museum Pioneers Wing. Shiloh's exhibit Curator is Tzahi Ferber.
Yaakov Shiloh says: "I view cartooning as a sub-genre of opinion journalism. I consider myself a journalist who conveys his message through satirical drawings. Regarding the question whether cartooning is art – this is something cartoonists are still arguing about. In principal, what is important about a cartoon is the message it conveys. A cartoon of which the message is not clear is not worth the paper upon which it is drawn – no matter what technique was used to create it.
The exhibit will be on display from January 1 to March 1, 2010.
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