8th International Cartoon Gathering celebrates late Egyptian comedian Samir Ghanem

The exhibition's opening ceremony saw many important figures from Egypt's cultural scene in attendance, including Minister of Culture Dr. Ahmed Hano, Head of the Fine Arts Sector at the Ministry Dr. Walid Qanoush, President of Egyptian Caricature Association Mostafa El-Sheikh, Cultural Counselor at the Spanish Embassy in Cairo Dr. Magdalena Cruz, General Coordinator of the exhibition Fawzy Morsy, and along with a group of artists, media professionals, members of the Egyptian Caricature Association, and caricature art enthusiasts.

Hossam Ghanem, Samir Ghanem's brother, was also present. He praised the exhibition's success and expressed joy at celebrating his brother's memory.

 

Minister Hano praised caricature as a powerful medium of expression and lauded the forum for its role in fostering cultural dialogue and the exchange of creative experiences among artists worldwide. He also expressed his appreciation for the forum's choice to honor Samir Ghanem, recognizing his immense contributions to comedy in both Egypt and the Arab world.

 

 

Cartoonist Fawzy Morsy, General Commissioner of the gathering, stated that this edition saw significant participation from cartoonists from various countries around the world. The organizing committee received a total of 510 artworks from approximately 318 artists representing 60 countries. The selection committee, comprised of artists Galal Gomaa, Maher Daniel, Hassan Farouk, and Samir Abdel Ghani, chose around 270 artworks from about 246 artists representing 54 Arab and foreign countries.

 

Morsy pointed out that this year's gathering focuses on two main themes. The cartoon theme includes a collection of outstanding artworks addressing various important and vital issues such as the Palestinian issue, pollution, climate change and its negative impacts on the world, artificial intelligence, the dangers of social media, women's issues, and more.

 

 

 

The second theme is caricature portraiture, celebrating the comedy legend Samir Ghanem, who captivated audiences with his television, film, and theater performances for decades, the forum will showcase a series of joyful portraits of the late artist drawn by a large group of cartoonists from around the world, as well as a collection of portraits of the famous Spanish comedian José Luis López Vázquez.

 

The opening included a performance by the Tanoura troupe and a tribute to the late artist Mohamed Hakem, who was often referred to as the Egyptian philosopher of caricature and who passed away earlier this year aged 82. The Kingdom of Spain was the guest of honor at the forum's eighth edition.

 

The International Cartoon Gathering is one of the most important events dedicated to the art of cartoons in Egypt. Organized by the Cultural Relations Sector, the Fine Arts Sector, and the Egyptian Caricature Association, with sponsorship from the Misr El-Kheir Foundation.