11th Asian cartoon exhibit set at SM Baguio

BAGUIO CITY --The Japan Foundation, Manila and the SM Super Malls 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" from Feb. 2-15 at the gallery of SM City here.

The exhibition officially reels off with an invitational opening on Feb. 2 at SM around 6 p.m.

The traveling exhibit 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 of Asian commonalities and diversity.

Representing the Philippines is Lyndon Gregorio, cartoonist for the English-language daily newspaper, The Philippine Star.

He has also authored various books, including Beerkada: Off Campus (2006). 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 4-cut cartoon, “Himawari-kun (Little Sunflower Cop),” “Ohnaa-kun (Little Owner),” among others. “Himawari-kun” was also made into television 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 Bhattacharjee, political cartoonist of the Bengali daily newspaper Prothom Alo; Xia Dachuan, freelance illustrator and cartoonist at Beijing Wanbao; Jayanto Banerjee, senior illustrator at Hindustan Times, an English-language daily newspaper in India; Benny Rachmadi, 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 newspaper & magazine for youths, Tuoi Tre Cuoi; Hapuwalanage Don Ariyadasa (a.k.a. Dasa Hapuwalanage), political cartoonist of the Lankadeepa, Sinhala-language daily who 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 and now work as 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 9 p.m. at SM City Baguio.
For inquiries, please contact the Japan Foundation, Manila at tel. no. 811-6155 to 58 or log on at JFM website www.jfmo.org.ph.