Prezentujemy wyjątkową rozmowę z Liu Qiangiem, wybitnym karykaturzystą z Chin, który od lat zdobywa uznanie na międzynarodowych festiwalach satyry. Artysta dzieli się kulisami twórczości, sukcesami oraz przemyśleniami na temat rozwoju karykatury na świecie.
The full interview in English is below.
Tematy poruszone w rozmowie:
- Etyka i Granice: Liu Qiang definiuje etyczną granicę humoru, podkreślając, że prawdziwa satyra musi opierać się na szacunku, a nie na pogardzie.
- Rynek Chiński: Twórca analizuje specyfikę swojego kraju, gdzie rysunek humorystyczny jest narzędziem postępu społecznego.
- Technologia i AI: Poznajemy jego spojrzenie na rewolucję cyfrową – artysta dostrzega w sztucznej inteligencji zarówno zagrożenie, jak i szansę dla innowatorów.
- Misja GHP: Liu Qiang oficjalnie wspiera Partię Dobrego Humoru, uznając „składkę” w postaci trzech uśmiechów za światowy standard.
- Wesoły Wieżowiec: Zapowiada udział w globalnej akcji i planuje dokumentację fotograficzną symbolu GHP w najważniejszych punktach swojego miasta.
- Wizja WCI: Jako Ambasador, proponuje ambitny plan rozwoju, łączący inicjatywy społeczne z nowoczesnym modelem komercyjnym.
Interviews of Sadurski – World Caricature Institute
Liu Qiang – cartoonist from China
You and Your Art
1. Do you remember your first drawing, first publication or exhibition? How did your artistic career begin? What urge led you to create humorous paintings?
Liu Qiang: What I remember most is a red elephant I drew in an art class in primary school, which won high praise from my teacher. Though I didn’t pick up a brush frequently after that, the joy of creation has always stayed with me. I officially began to teach myself painting at the age of 24. Once my wife bought me a copy of International Cartoon Anthology, and I fell in love with these philosophical cartoons. Thus, I started to take part in international cartoon competitions officially in 2014.
My first solo exhibition was held in India. In 2017, I participated in an international cartoon competition in India and won the second prize. Mr. V.G. Narendra, President of the Indian Cartoonists Association, wrote to me saying that my works were very appealing and hoped I could send more cartoons for the association’s reference and study. I then sent 14 more pieces. Some time later, Mr. V.G. Narendra wrote again, saying all the cartoons I sent were excellent and proposed to hold a solo exhibition for me. After several months of preparation, my solo cartoon exhibition was successfully held at the Bangalore Exhibition Hall in India in early 2018. The excitement and joy at that time are still vivid in my mind.
2. How do you create your works? Do you prefer drawing on paper like the old masters, or digital technology and tablets?
Liu Qiang: Since I have another job, my creative rhythm is not consistent; instead, I seize the fragmented time in life to carry it forward. I often record the moments of inspiration in my life in words, then sketch them with a brush when I have time, and finally polish the sketches in depth. Most of my works are created with a drawing tablet and a computer, and sometimes I also use paper painting or oil painting.
3. Is there any topic you would never dare to draw? Is there a boundary between humor and satire? Is it true that we should not laugh at everything?
Liu Qiang: I have always had a clear creative bottom line. For example, I will never take harming others, spreading prejudice, inciting hatred and other content as materials for humorous creation, which is a principle I stick to. In my opinion, humor and satire are never unrestrained mockery; their core should be care, and the boundary lies in morality, ethics, respect and empathy. All creations should aim at reflecting on reality and correcting problems.
The saying „We cannot laugh at everything” is true. Respect is the prerequisite for laughter, and we must not build our happiness on the pain of others. This is a basic principle for cartoon creation and all forms of humorous expression.
4. What do you consider your greatest success so far, and why?
Liu Qiang: I have always maintained a humble attitude towards creation and do not think I have any achievements to be proud of. Of course, winning awards in international competitions makes me happy. What is more meaningful to me is that my works can be seen by readers of different ages and professions from all over the world, making them laugh and reflect after seeing my works.
5. Do you think AI (Artificial Intelligence) will replace cartoonists in the future?
Liu Qiang: I think AI will replace some cartoonists, but it may also act as a driving force for innovative cartoonists. Just as the emergence of the camera seemed to impact traditional painting, it ultimately promoted the development of Impressionism.
Humor and Satire in Your Country
6. In your country, is cartoon seen as an innocent joke or a political provocation? Have cartoonists encountered legal problems there?
Liu Qiang: In our country, cartoons have a variety of expressive forms, and cannot be simply classified as „anonymous jokes” or „political provocations”. There are children’s cartoons, humorous cartoons and life cartoons, which are daily pastimes for the public and convey joy.
News cartoons, satirical cartoons, philosophical cartoons and so on, focus on international news, social ills and unhealthy tendencies, conducting positive criticism and reflection. Their starting point is to promote social progress, and they have nothing to do with the so-called „political provocations”. As long as cartoonists’ works do not cross the legal red line, violate public order and good morals, or damage the legitimate rights and interests of others, they will not encounter legal problems.
7. Where do people in your country find humor? Are there satirical TV shows, stand-up comedians? Are there humor portals or satirical magazines? Are there cartoon museums or other official organizations dedicated to cartoonists?
Liu Qiang: People in China mainly find humor from short video platforms, social media, variety shows and offline theaters, with rich forms such as crosstalk, skits and stand-up comedy. There are also professional cartoon platforms and humor sections in various periodicals. There are venues such as the China Animation Museum in China, as well as official organizations like the Cartoon Art Committee of the China Artists Association and various folk cartoon associations.
8. What do you think of the 25-year-old international organization the Good Humor Party (GHP)? Does the idea of making the world a better place through laughter resonate with you?
Liu Qiang: The Good Humor Party (GHP) is an extremely warm and creative organization. The design of taking „three smiles a day” as the membership fee is unique and ingenious. I fully agree with the GHP’s core philosophy of „making the world a better and more peaceful place through laughter”, which breaks down national and cultural barriers and makes joy a universal language for humanity.
9. What do you think of the Happy Skyscraper (HS), the symbol of the GHP? Would you like to take a photo of the HS in your city?
Liu Qiang: The design of the Happy Skyscraper is highly symbolic. The check-in images from 700 cities around the world are a cross-cultural transmission of joy. I am very willing to participate in this international fun activity and take a commemorative photo of the Happy Skyscraper at the famous landmarks in my city.
10. How do you evaluate the concept of the World Caricature Institute (WCI)? In your opinion, what should the global humor elites do together?
Liu Qiang: The WCI has built a borderless platform for communication and cooperation. In my opinion, global humor elites should unite their forces to realize the two-way empowerment of public welfare value and commercial development. Specific practices can be carried out in two directions: public welfare initiatives and commercial plans.
Public Welfare Initiatives: Organize cross-cultural creations for peace and environment, offer global youth public welfare cartoon classes, and hold borderless exhibitions to eliminate prejudice. Jointly adhere to the creative bottom line, resisting hatred and harming vulnerable groups.
Commercial Plans: Implement copyright sharing for transnational joint creations, organize global joint online exhibitions and sales, and monetize professional creative content through guides and courses. Explore IP-related cooperation for the Happy Skyscraper and the global sale of digital works.
Interwiev: Szczepan Sadurski, Poland
Director of World Caricature Instituje
President of Good Humor Party
