Debate about Freedom of Expression

I participated in a debate about freedom of expression with cartoonist Pierre Kroll. It was a public event that happened recently via PAC Bruxelles. 

Interview Voor Volkswagen Magazine - NL (*)

© 2013 Ben Heine

(Version française à ce lien | English version here)

INTRO: Ben Heine, auteur van het edito in de herfsteditie van Volkswagen Magazine, is een multidisciplinair artiest die speelt met technieken en kunstdragers. Hij combineert fotografie en tekenkunst, zoals in de reeks ‘Pencil Vs Camera’, maar werkt ook met het menselijk lichaam, bijvoorbeeld in ‘Flesh and Acrylic’. Een echte virtuoos met een potlood, maar evengoed bedreven in digitale technieken. Ben Heine stapt moeiteloos van de ene wereld in de andere, en het resultaat is altijd verrassend.

Peyo Lissarrague: Je studeerde journalistiek maar leerde jezelf tekenen. Maakt dat het moeilijker om erkenning te krijgen van collega’s?

Ben Heine: Autodidact zijn, heeft zo zijn voor- en nadelen. Door het feit dat ik geen kunst gestudeerd heb, zijn er ongetwijfeld al deuren voor me gesloten gebleven. En bepaalde collega’s kijken misschien wat op me neer. Anderzijds geniet ik enorm veel vrijheid. Ik kan nieuwe wegen bewandelen, ik ben niet gebonden aan academische dogma’s of een bepaald type onderwijs. Ik teken al sinds mijn prille jeugd, met veel passie. Ik heb hard gewerkt, ik geloof niet echt in talent. Tekenaar word je door te tekenen. Door vol te houden.

Je studeerde journalistiek en je bent tekenaar… je had bijvoorbeeld ook actualiteitscartoonist kunnen worden. Waarom koos je voor een andere weg?  

Ik heb veel respect en bewondering voor actualiteitstekenaars. Het is heel moeilijk om in enkele pennentrekken complexe situaties uit te beelden. Persoonlijk leg ik me liever toe op universele zaken, niet zozeer op dagdagelijkse details. Ik ben geen artiest die graag polemiek opwekt. Ik ben geen wereldverbeteraar, maar wil wel een boodschap van liefde en vriendschap uitdragen. Ik wil iedereen bereiken, mensen samenbrengen in plaats van te provoceren.

Je laat je inspireren door artiesten zoals Magritte. Is kunst een spel?

Ja, ik geloof in humor in kunst. In een ludieke, kinderlijke kijk. Wat natuurlijk niet impliceert dat ik geen humanistische waarden verdedig of diepgang zou missen.

Dat is ook wat je doet in je reeks ‘Pencil Vs Camera’. Je verbergt je niet achter optische illusies maar figureert zelf in je werk. Is dat een keuze?  

Mijn hand verschijnt inderdaad in die reeks. Ik hou een tekening vast die in de foto geïntegreerd wordt. Ik voelde van in het begin instinctief aan dat dat nodig was om een evenwichtig geheel te creëren. Het is natuurlijk geen mooie vrouwenhand, mijn hand breekt de harmonie een beetje. Op die manier wilde ik het maximum uit het concept halen. Ik wilde een bruuske overgang creëren tussen de verbeelding en de realiteit van de foto. Zo zie je heel duidelijk dat er geen Photoshop aan te pas gekomen is. Ik hou de tekening echt vast en kadreer mijn foto zo dat de lijnen overeenkomen. Dat vraagt heel wat fysieke inspanning!

Jouw idee werd al veelvuldig hergebruikt …

Vooral reclamebureaus lieten zich al inspireren door het concept. Ik vind dat goed, dat bewijst dat het een goed idee is! Voor mij is ‘Pencil Vs Camera’ een beperkte reeks. Als ik honderd beelden heb, stop ik ermee. Ik ben momenteel al met andere projecten bezig. Voor ‘Digital Circlism’ maak ik pointillistische portretten van beroemdheden maar dan met grote stippen en cirkels. ‘Flesh and Acrylic’ is een project rond het lichaam. Ik beschilder levende modellen van kop tot teen en integreer ze in een trompe-l’oeuil. En vorig jaar startte ik een muzikaal project op… een nieuw avontuur.

(*) Volkswagen Magazine is het officiële tijdschrift van Volkswagen met auto-advies, de laatste nieuwe modellen van Volkswagen, wedstrijden maar ook lifestyle, sport en festivals. Lees dit interview op Volkswagen Magazine website.

Editorial, interview and cover in Volkswagen Magazine (2013)

Ben Heine art for an article in Volkswagen Magazine (2013)

© 2013 Ben Heine

Interview with

Talal Nayer

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"The Time of
Laughter is Over"

By Musa Hamid

The cartoonist Talal Nayer is one of the creators of modern lines in caricature, his cartoons exceeded laughter and entertainment in this area. Nayer does have visions and views in this matter. In this interview, we discussed with him the nature and usefulness of art

Tell us about your beginnings and who had the significant impact on you to practice caricature, especially at private and public level?

My first beginnings were very modest and normal, the ideas were simple and very superficial, when I go back to see it from time to time, I have discovered it was saturated with childishness and absurdity, and the lines are swaying confusedly. In fact, I was the one shaking and confused, I do not know how and from where to begin?

>>> Read the full interview
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Ercan Baysal
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© 2008 - Ben Heine

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Ercan Baysal is
a Turkish artist
living in Izmir.
See some of
his creations
on ToonPool
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Ben by Nayer

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© 2008 Nayer

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Nayer made a second portrait of me! Thank you for seeing me in such a way Brother. (See his first portrait)

Talal Hasan Nayer, better known as "NAYER" or "CAMACHO" is a journalist and professional cartoonist living in Sudan. He was born the 13th of January 1983 in Omrowaba, a town in Kurdofan State. He studied civil engineering in Sudan University of Science and Technology.

He currently works with "Ray al-sha`abb" daily newspaper and also used to draw comics in "Semsema" magazine.

Camacho invented 2 cartoon figures called "MOJJ and LOJJ", the goat and the domestic fly. He also created "THE SMART, THE STUPID and THE SMELLY" (also known as "The 3s Gang"), dedicated to chidren.

He participated in several individual and collective exhibitions (individual shows in 2004, 2005 and 2006 in Sudan University of Science and Technology, and collective shows in 2003 in Sudanese Media Center and in 2004 in the German Cultural Center.

A selection of Camacho's creations can be seen on Brazilcartoon.com.

His blog : www.tnayer.blogspot.com

I also drew his portrait some weeks ago, it can be seen here.

Nayer-Camacho

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© 2008 - Ben Heine

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Talal Hasan Nayer, better known as "NAYER" or "CAMACHO" is a journalist and professional cartoonist living in Sudan. He was born the 13th of January 1983 in Omrowaba, a town in Kurdofan State. He studied civil engineering in Sudan University of Science and Technology.

He currently works with "Ray al-sha`abb" daily newspaper and also used to draw comics in "Semsema" magazine.

Camacho invented 2 cartoon figures called "MOJJ and LOJJ", the goat and the domestic fly. He also created "THE SMART, THE STUPID and THE SMELLY" (also known as "The 3s Gang"), dedicated to chidren.

He participated in several individual and collective exhibitions (individual shows in 2004, 2005 and 2006 in Sudan University of Science and Technology, and collective shows in 2003 in Sudanese Media Center and in 2004 in the German Cultural Center.

A selection of Camacho's creations can be seen on Brazilcartoon.com. Also, don't miss his blog.

Nayer also made my portrait some weeks ago, it can be seen here.

Tan Oral
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© 2008 - Ben Heine
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Tan Oral Fired From
Cumhuriyet Newspaper

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Tan Oral, world wide known as one of the masters of the Turkish cartoon, an excellent person and a good friend of cartoonists, has recently been fired from "Cumhuriyet", the most serious and prestigious left wing newspaper of Turkey where he used to work since 1976.

The reason of this act was due to a plot organized by another Turkish newspaper, "Yeni Safak", quite conservative and close to the AKP government.

Last week a young reporter from the "Yeni Safak" newspaper, interviewed Tan, on the occasion of his 50's year anniversary of cartooning in Turkey. And after been interviewee of more than two hours, becoming more familiar with the artist, she asked to see the drawing to be published next morning in "Cumhuriyet". Tan, naively signed it and gave it to her as a souvenir with the condition to not published it...

Next day, this cartoon appeared on the first page of "Yeni Safak" with an underline mentioning that this cartoon was exclusively made for "Yeni Safak". Of course the same cartoon took place the same day on Cumhuriyet's Tan's corner. Tan protested hardly "Yeni Safak" which published the day after a short note of apologies. But this was a very good pretext and opportunity for the editor in chief of "Cumhuriyet" to fire Tan Oral who was drawing from time to time cartoons against the official policy of his newspaper.

Tan is now unemployed (!). He didn't jump on any proposal coming from many other newspapers. He participated with high moral to his 50's year anniversary exhibition in Eskisehir last Thursday the 12th. But disregarding his up hopes, he hardly needs some support and encouragement from his friends, because he's still disappointed of the unexpected attitude of his newspaper for which he did during his last 32 years...

Tan is preparing now a manuscript about this recent event, including several articles published in the Turkish local press, all the public reactions, comments and messages sent by his friend and supporters etc...

For your supports and encouraging messages, you can use his e-mail address:

tanoral@ttmail.com

For your comments and reactions to the Cumhuriyet newspaper:

posta@cumhuriyet.com.tr


Best personal regards,

Izel Rozental,
Feco : Federation of Cartoonists’ Organisations

Ben Heine by CAMACHO

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© 2008 - CAMACHO

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Thank you dear Camacho !
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Talal Hasan Nayer, better known as "CAMACHO" is a journalist and professional cartoonist living in Sudan. He was born the 13th of January 1983 in Omrowaba, a town in Kurdofan State. He studied civil engineering in Sudan University of Science and Technology.

He currently works with "Ray al-sha`abb" daily newspaper and also used to draw comics in "Semsema" magazine.

Camacho invented 2 cartoon figures called "MOJJ and LOJJ", the goat and the domestic fly. He also created "THE SMART, THE STUPID and THE SMELLY" (also known as "The 3s Gang"), dedicated to chidren.

He participated in several individual and collective exhibitions (individual shows in 2004, 2005 and 2006 in Sudan University of Science and Technology, and collective shows in 2003 in Sudanese Media Center and in 2004 in the German Cultural Center.

A selection of Camacho's creations can be seen on Brazilcartoon.com.

Video of David
Baldinger Working

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(Ben Heine © Cartoons)

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Video I Tossed Together
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By David Baldinger

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I wanted to make a short video showing myself working. It was a bit difficult holding a camera and drawing at the same time so excuse the “shaky cam”. Normally I do all my coloring on the computer since I have a tendency to mess real media up.

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--> Also visit David's blog: http://dbaldinger.com/blog

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Mikhail M. Zlatkovsky
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Poster by Anadolu Universitesi
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Exhibition of the Work of Mikhail M. ZLATKOVSKY
at the Anadolu University Museum of Cartoon Art
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Since its founding, the Museum of Cartoon Art has been bringing together the famous faces of world and Turkish cartoons, together with the art lovers of Eskisehir. Now the museum is putting on an exhibition of the work of Mikhail M. Zlatkovsky.

Born in 1944, Russian artist Mikhail M. Zlatkovsky is a famous cartoonist whose cartoons have been widely published in the newspapers and magazines of his homeland and world as well as being shown in personal and combined exhibitions.

The upcoming exhibition in Eskisehir will contain over 60 colour cartoons. It will open on September 26 and close on Oktober 22
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CV Mikhail M. Zlatkovsky

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He was born in August, 21, 1944 at village of St.Christopher, Tambov region in a family of The Red Army officers. The family legend says that Russian branch of Zlatkovskies is from a Polish nobility traced back to the end of XII century. After suppression of Kostyushko' rebellion, (end of XVIII century), the great-great-grandfather of the artist was banished to Russia. All men in the family were a sort of priests: before 1831 - Catholics, after - orthodox priests in the Oryol province, European part of Russia.

The grandfather, Kozma Mikolajevitch, did not accept "Sergijanski's heresy" and served secretly as a priest of Russian Cave Church for fourteen years. He was executed on November, 26, 1937. The father, Michael Kuzmitch, a colonel, a professor, and a doctor of the military sciences. Being 7 years old, he has officially refused from his father, then from his son at his 72.

Mikhail Zlatkovsky was graduated from Moscow Engineering-Physical Institute (Nuclear Physics Dept.) in 1967 with major in Accelerators of Elementary Particles and worked as the physicist-researcher for 5 years.

In 1971 throw out physics and became a free-lance artist. Worked as the Chief-Art-Designer in several leading newspapers and magazines. In 1993-98 used to live in the USA, where was Chief-art director of newspapers.

Now the Editorial Cartoonist of the daily all-state newspaper "New Messages ".Primary activity: political cartoons and caricature, books and magazines illustration, posters.The basic direction in creativity: "sense art, "problems graphics".

Art-research scientist of the State Institute of Art, where has prepared the thesis for a doctor's degree "The History of the Russian Cartoon", and wrote text books "The Theory and Practice of Images Creation".

During 1999-2001 term took the professor position at The Moscow State University, department of the art journalism. He was secretary of the Russian Journalists Union.

During 18 years (till 2001) his collection of the art awards was the biggest all over the world – 211 prizes of the international and national competitions of cartoons, animations, posters, designs, illustrations, among its there are about 50 Grand prizes - "Gold Esope " of Gabrovo, Bulgaria, Grand prix of Montreal, Canada, "the Gold Hat " of Knokke-Hiest, Belgium, (twice), the First prize in Istanbul, Turkey, Grand prix in South Korea, "Gold Date " of Bordighery, Italy, "the Gold Egg" of Kroushoutem, Belgium, "the Gold Pencil "of "Satyricon", Poland, and others.
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The most important art achievements are:

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- In 1992, was awarded as "The Best Artist in a Cartooning" after international Peers interrogation,
- “Gold pen”- the highest Russian professional artist award. 2003,
- “The Best artist of the world”,- Grand prix of the XVI Amadora International cartoons festival, Portugal, 2005.
- Personal exhibitions in Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, (twice), in Malta, Poland, (twice), Russia, Switzerland, USA.
- Founder and the President of the Russian Union of Cartoonists.
- President of The Russian division of FECO

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--> Source : Anadolu.edu.tr

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Paintings by Simon Regis (*)

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(Click on images to enlarge)

(Click on images to enlarge)

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(*) Simon Regis is a young Tanzanian artist. He paints and draws editorial cartoons in MTANZANIA and THE AFRICAN newspapers. Below are examples of his work and you can view more of his fantastic art on HIS NEW BLOG and contact him at regiscartoontz@yahoo.co.uk

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David Baldinger
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(Ben Heine © Cartoons)

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This is a new portrait of my North American friend David Baldinger. He draws brilliant cartoons for the People's Weekly World. You can see his political artwork on his website, his blog or his Deviant Art page Also read the interview I had with him a few months ago...
Keep doing what you do, David, you rock !

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David in 1966...
:)
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Below is the comment David left to this post :
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Ben, I would argue about the "brilliant" part but I am glad we are friends even over this great distance. The Internet has truly changed the world. Before, I would have been very isolated and unaware of so many great people. I remember growing up as a child out in the countryside of Pennsylvania. I was surrounded by nothing but dairy and horse farms. We had four channels of television--only one of which really opened horizons. That was our Public Broadcasting Service. Through that channel, I was introduced to films from around the world, classical music, art, world animation and great science programs. I consider that channel to have been instrumental in developing my world view. A world view that can see the history and culture of everyone who inhabites this small planet and that the USA is not the center of the universe. I am not a citizen of just the USA, I am a citizen of planet Earth. I am overjoyed that this latest technology has made my personal family so large. I include you, Steve, Dean, Ann, Izzi, Carlos and so many others as my new family. Thank you Ben for honoring me with such a fantastic picture and thank you all, my new family for your constant support and encouragement. Without that support, I don't know if I would continue trying to work through my constant and sometimes debilitating pain. You all make it worthwhile. My greatest wish is that one day I will be able to really meet you all.
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Thanks for using all these new technologies to spread a global message, David, one day we'll meet for sure.
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Interview with Juanito Kalvellido
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(Ben Heine © Cartoons).

“Laugh is a freedom”.

Juan Kalvellido is a cartoonist born in the working class that has never stopped believing in revolution. This Andalusian was born in Cadiz, Spain in 1968 during the student revolts. He lives in Malaga, where he earns his bread and butter working in the hotel and catering business, a euphemism to say that during eight hours (or even more!) of every day, of every month, of every year... he serves giant hamburgers (whoppers, but over there they call them gupers) while imagining thousands of drawings, and then later... when he goes back home, dedicates the rest of the day to making us and his family happy. Read more about Kalvellido.

(The interview below was realized a few weeks ago. Since then Juan has lost his job at Burger King. He courageously tries to sue the international chain of fast food restaurants, because they gave him nothing in return...)

- How did you come to draw professionally?

I am not a professional draftsman. I work in the restaurant B. KING and catering business (hotel management). Drawing is only a hobby that gives me gratification and serves me to relax. I WORK TO SURVIVE AND DRAW TO LIVE!

- Which papers, magazines and Internet sites do you work for?

I collaborate with different press associations that need my work. My works also appear in magazines and papers, such as The Old Mole, The Karma and Diagonal… I also illustrated several books of poetry and short stories.

- What is it in the political language that inspires you the most?

I’m inspired by everything, from a conversation in the street to serious political analysis in the newspapers. My inspiration comes also from a phrase in a book, an anecdote in a movie, television newscasts… EVERYTHING!

- Should there be any limitation to freedom of speech whatsoever?

According to me, there must be no limit in the freedom of expression. For me, there is no specific red line to be imposed and everyone must choose his way. Every responsible person must know their own limit. I, for example, would never draw anything racist or offensive towards women …

- Is there, according to you, one single form of freedom of speech or are there several?

Here total freedom of expression exists while you do not say what they do not want! They can touch neither the basic props of the society NOR KING, NOR MOTHER LAND, NOR GOD!

- Have any of your drawings been censored? If yes, then why and under what circumstances?

Well, not really. There are always anecdotes where people say this or that to you and these commentaries can cause auto censorship afterwards. I do not like empty discussions.

- Are you practicing self-censorship? Which are the most difficult topics to depict?

I have my own red lines. I never draw anything that could offend someone directly. People can feel offended with my work, but my intention is to make laugh first and think later. The humorist always causes tears in people’s eyes but he also put a smile on their lips.

- Do you think the drawing is a political power able to change people’s behaviour?

I think the political texts people read in the news can influence them. Why cartoons couldn’t do the same?

- Do you think that the satirical drawer is an artist or rather a journalist, or even both?

He is a pessimist well informed in art. A troubadour and sometimes a buffoon.

- According to you, is the role of the drawer to make people laugh or to think?

My style is to make laugh and then reflect. The laugh is the best assault. Laugh is a freedom.

- Which situation or person do you think is hardest to draw?

For me the most difficult thing to do is to be humorous while dealing with serious facts and situations and it’s even more complicated to remain impartial.

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--> Visit Kalvellido’s website
--> See Kalvellido’s Flickr page--> Interview and portrait : Ben Heine