CER | Cartoons from Romania

This week the Cartoonist Rights Network, Romania Chapter shares with CER the work of two different generations of artists.

The first cartoonist, Catalin Zaharia, represents the young generation of up and coming talent. His cartoon of Romanian President Ion Iliescu offers a colorful and vivid portrait of the man with the motto, "Close to the people, together with them." Zaharia was born in Brasov, 5 January 1979 and is currently a student at the High School of Fine Arts and working for Monitorul de Iasi, newspaper.

The second cartoon comes from Anton Dragos, who was previously featured in CER's Winter Special. Representing Romania's more established and well-known artists Dragos began drawing cartoons in 1967, and has won several international awards for his work. This week's cartoon "Liberte," is a modern day rendering of Rousseau's observations about the paradox of liberty and freedom.

Freedom and journalism

The Cartoonists Rights Network will host the second International Ploiesti Cartoon Festival in summer 2002, with the theme "Freedom and Journalism." As press freedom in several areas of Central and Eastern Europe continues to face many obstacles, even after more than ten years of transition, the Festival will undoubtedly illuminate the observations of the region's political cartoonists towards threats to free speech and expression. Entries are currently being solicited. For more information email Nicolae Ionita.

The catalogue for first edition of International Ploiesti Cartoon Festival will be published in late February 2002. Visit the festival website to check out featured selections from the 2001 festival held in Ploiesti, Romania.

About CRN

The first CRN organization was established in the US seven years ago by Dr Robert Russell, who leads Cartoonist Rights Network International. CRN promotes friendship and solidarity between all cartoonists worldwide, with the goal of protecting the integrity of freedom of speech for editorial cartoonists.

The Cartoonists Rights Network South East Europe (CRN/SEE) currently represents seven countries: Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Turkey and Yugoslavia. CRN's director, Nicolae Ionita, is looking to take on more members throughout all of Central and Eastern Europe.

For more information:

Visit their website
...or e-mail them
...or phone them on 004-044-193876

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