17. November bis 7. Dezember 2006
Besichtigung täglich ab 17 Uhr
Zur der von der Fritz-Wolf-Gesellschaft organisierten und unterstützten Ausstellung schreibt Herr Tailang:
»I am delighted that the Indian Council of Cultural Relations and the Osnabruck University are presenting to you this solo show of my cartoons. It was quite a task to choose roughly about a hundred cartoons from a pile of a few thousand drawings. In the past two decades or so, I have had the privilege of drawing many prime ministers (PM). Most of them invented solely to serve the cause of cartooning!
I have drawn cartoons for several major newspapers in India. The first PM who became my victim was Indira Gandhi. Ever since, no politician has escaped my brush. In this exhibition, especially put together for Germany, I am presenting a comic history of roughly the past two decades.
Indian political stage is a colourful place. It’s an evergoing eternal soap opera. India offers us politicians of all shapes and sizes. They wear different type of dressed unlike their western counterparts who are confined to fine suits!
India is a paradise for cartoonists. Most of our politicians work full-time for the cartoonists rather than for the people.
This exhibition begins with PM Rajiv Gandhi (son of Indira Gandhi and grandson of JN Nehru, India’s first PM). And takes you through the past two decades. Nine PMs keep you company in this journey till you reach the present PM Manmohan Singh.
The freedom of expression is the life-blood of cartooning. I can’t survive without the liberty to attack the mightiest. India is a thriving Democracy. In the entire region that surrounds the nation, it’s the only success story.
India has had a great tradition of a free Press. The cartoon is a fine example of the freedom we enjoy. This exhibition is a tribute to the art of cartooning. To the Indian Democracy. And to the Indo-German friendship and cooperation.
It’s not important if you have been keeping track of every event in India. It’s not important even if you are not familiar with the characters who appear in these cartoons. For there is a common thread that binds politicians of all hues and nationalities all over the world. You may find a reflection of your politicians in many cartoons. They are all the same! The idea is to laugh at ourselves. As the politicians who rule are also one of us. After all that’s what a Democracy is all about.
I dream of a world – a Utopian world: here there’s no corruption, no wars, no violence, no water shortage! Where there’s no poverty, hungry people or disease. Fine roads, homes for all and a world where everyone is equal! In short a world where the political cartoonist has no role to play I dream of a world without me! But, unfortunately for the teeming millions, and fortunately for the cartoonist it’s only a dream! The politicians will ensure that doesn’t happen! For, they will have no role to play if it happened!
So, welcome to the world of my cartoons. While you travel through the comic history, I will guide you through your journey in the gallery. Please go ahead and enjoy the cartoons and the spirit behind them…«
Sudhir Tailang
