The art of journalistic caricature

The Qatar Press Centre is currently hosting an exhibition (until September 2) on the art of journalistic caricature. It includes about 40 coloured works by Qatari cartoonist and illustrator Abdulaziz Sadiq. The exhibition encompasses various topics covered by the artist, who presented caricatures on societal issues, expressing them in a comic way, as is the custom of caricature artists.
Abdulaziz Sadiq gave an exclusive interview to Gulf Times. He said: “The current exhibition came at the invitation of the Qatari Press Centre from Sadiq al-Ammari, the director-general of the centre. The idea was to present a personal exhibition of journalistic caricatures. Since I have been publishing my works on a daily basis for more than 35 years in the Qatari press, the caricatures on display represent the old and the new works on numerous social issues. The exhibition includes 40 caricatures, the drawings of which were previously published in the Qatari newspapers.”
Sadiq added: “My artistic career started with the local Arabic daily 'Arrayah' in 1984. I was publishing in the black-and-white weekly then. I was encouraged by Nasser al-Othman, the editor-in-chief at that time. I continued to draw in the same newspaper for 10 years until I became the main illustrator. I issued the first book of caricatures in Qatar in 1988. I also published in the local Arabic daily 'Al-Sharq'.”
Sadiq expressed his enthusiasm about this art and said: “Caricature is one of the most difficult arts, especially if it is done on a daily basis. With practice, the process of drawing becomes easier, and the difficulty remains in pursuing the idea. As daily cartoonists, we draw inspiration from ideas from the street, television, or the Majlis (Arabic for saloon).
"We must put a comic touch on the subject so that it is accessible to and loved by the recipient."
He continued: “There are types of journalistic caricatures, which are daily, and these types can be political, social, or economic. Humour and seriousness are related to the artist’s personality in presenting the idea and producing it in his style and signature.”
Sadiq is of the view that “Caricature in Qatar enjoys a good standard, and there are unknown cartoonists who still need someone to encourage them and give them a hand to draw in the press. I do not mind giving advice and guidance to beginners in this art, and I do that periodically, either through advice or through training courses,” Sadiq concluded.
The exhibition has been attended by a large audience and has been a great opportunity for caricature lovers to learn more about what Abdulaziz Sadiq drew and published in the Qatari press over the course of his long career.
He reviewed some of his drawings in his huge archive, which he published throughout his artistic career. During his presentation, he explained how he was able to translate people's concerns in a sarcastic manner, and to exercise criticism with high eloquence that sometimes exceeds words.