REBELLION IN CARTOONS

 

During the mass uprising of students and the general public in 2024, memes and cartoons emerged as a potent force, employing sharp satire and bold imagery to capture the essence of resistance and unite the masses.

To honour these cartoons, Drik Gallery hosted an exhibition titled Cartoon E Bidroho from August 16 to 31 at their photo gallery in the capital’s Panthapath. It was organised in collaboration with the Bangladesh Cartoonist Association and Earki.

Curated by ASM Rezaur Rahman, the exhibition highlighted the pivotal role cartoonists have played in Bangladesh’s history. It showcased the exceptional skill and satirical verve of 82 cartoonists, featuring a well-curated collection of 175 artworks in the Drik Picture Library.

In every movement in Bangladesh, cartoonists have played a crucial role. We witnessed many impactful cartoons during the uprising of the 1990s.

Except for a few cartoonists, the community remained silent for a long time. This was due to a culture of fear. There were many restrictions that forced them to stay silent. However, the mass uprising in 2024 brought about a resurgence.

Now, we are seeing that young cartoonists led the movement within the community. This exhibition showcased cartoons created during the mass uprising, providing a perspective of the entire period.

Attendees praised the diverse styles and artists featured in the exhibition and expressed admiration for the student movement that inspired many of the artworks.

Photographer and Drik Founder Shahidul Alam was also present at the event.

Drik has been protesting in various ways throughout this period. Even when Sheikh Hasina was in power, cartoonists continued to protest. However, after the mass uprising, there is now more space for expression, which was not possible before.

Through visual illustrations or cartoons on social media, we can convey messages with a single static image, something that may be impossible through other media. Thus, cartoons have had a significant impact on this movement.

A special section of the exhibition was dedicated to participatory writing and Bangla Hip-Hop music produced during the uprising, further enhancing the experience. 

All the cartoonists featured in the exhibition, including Abdullah Al Zunayed, Shadat Mahbub, Mehedi Hasan, Eeha Nawar, Natasha Jahan, Purnota Sondhi, Raeid Hossen, Miskatun Jinat Tonni, Tuba Tanjum, and many others simply asked for one thing: the end of censorship in their art.