Skopje, 22 February 2023 (MIA) - The cartoon, with its interdisciplinarity that combines visual arts and linguistic metaphorical messages about those aspects of the world that are not so pleasant and that we don't want to face, is a paradigm of defiance, criticism and conscience of the artists, President Stevo Pendarovski told the opening of the 54th World Gallery of Cartoons and the Osten Biennial of Drawing Skopje 2022 at the National Gallery's Chifte Hammam on Wednesday. 

The President noted that it is a great thing for a nation to be able to speak with pride of five and a half decades of history of the World Gallery of Cartoons, and such events, he added, are pillars of our culture and our society in general.

The exhibition within the 54th World Gallery of Cartoons - Skopje 2022, displays works of awarded and selected cartoonist, while the Osten Biennial of Drawing Skopje 2022, in which 336 artists from 52 countries participated with 1,056 works, features the works of awarded and selected artists.  

"Thanks to a selection of works within the 54th World Gallery of Cartoons, we have the opportunity to see top world cartoonists and gain insight into current developments in one of the most complex and, according to some, bravest genres in the visual arts. At a time when new technologies prevail in every sphere, including the arts, despite the intensive development of digitization, the cartoon persists and continues to fascinate and attract the attention and interest, precisely because it incorporates the basic mission of art - to be a critic and corrective of every social and human anomaly," said Pendarovski. 

The authors of cartoons, the President stressed, through their drawing skills and the depth of the message, in just one drawing, express views and messages that really prod social wounds, freeing humanity from lies and the hypocrisy.

"To what extent does the cartoon with its humorous dimension help us to understand and overcome the unpleasant reality that reigns in the world? What tool do we have left to make the world better and make ourselves better? - Undoubtedly, these are questions close to those posed by a cartoon. The answers are found in our willingness and our courage to ask those questions to ourselves, to others and to the community. Undoubtedly, like many other artistic and cultural developments, we have an obligation to nurture and support the World Gallery of Cartoons," Pendarovski added.

Awards were presented at the event to the most successful authors, as well as recognitions to partners and collaborators of Osten. 

National Gallery director Dita Starova Qerimi congratulated the authors on the awards, and wished Osten many more jubilee events to come.

"I am honored that the National Gallery has hosted most of Osten's major activities over the years. And this cooperation is already becoming traditional, friendly," said Starova Qerimi. 

Painter, cartoonist and Osten director, Mice Jankulovski, said that the World Gallery of Cartoons is the world's oldest manifestation in the field of contemporary cartoon and the world's largest cartoon brand.

In addition, the President will host on Thursday a reception for the international participants in the 54th World Gallery of Cartoons and the Osten Biennial of Drawing Skopje 2022, and an exhibition of the most successful cartoons from the previous editions of the World Gallery of Cartoons will be set up at the President's office.