Leading Syrian novelist Hanna Mina is the focus of the 19th Syrian International Caricature Exhibition

The hundred caricature paintings that celebrated the pioneer of sea literature, Hanna Mina, did not depart from his realistic attribute and narrative style, but rather depicted him with new and contemporary artistic techniques at the nineteenth session of Syria’s 19th International Caricature Exhibition.

Participants from seventy countries around the world competed in the exhibition, which opened today at Dar Al-Assad for Culture and Arts, in portraying the writer Mina from various art insights that depicted key themes identified by the competition’s organizers.

The festival began with the screening of a documentary of Mina’s literary biography and his long-running novel-writing career. The winners of the festival were announced, with the first prize being received by Mojmir Mihatov of Croatia, and the second prize went to Darko Drljević of Montenegro, while the third prize went to Pierre Lustamina of Romania.

The President of the Arab Writers Union, Dr. Muhammad Al-Hourani, the Director General of Dar Al-Assad for Culture and Arts, Maestro Andre Maalouli, the plastic artists Mwafaq Makhoul, Hassan Ismail, Bushra Al-Hakim, and the theater critic Joan Jean, in addition to the conductor of the orchestra, Maestro Nazih Asaad, were also honored.

The concert continued while the orchestra led by Maestro Nazih Asaad played musical clips of dramatic works written by Hanna Mina, in addition to musical pieces inspired by the event, passing through a lyrical Panorama about the Syrian and nautical heritage.

The director of the exhibition, the cartoonist Raed Khalil, explained that the aim of the exhibition is to shed light on Syrian creative figures who influenced the Syrian cultural movement and passed away, and to export their creations and artistic productions to the countries of the world.

The president of the Arab Writers Union, Dr. Mohammed Al-Hourani, said: “this exhibition reflects the deep-rooted relationship between the painting and the writer.

Jury member Joan Jean pointed out that the art of caricature is a humanitarian art and deals with humanitarian issues primarily, and that the works participating in the competition touched the concerns and setbacks of the individual.

Critic and journalist Nidal Qushha said that this festival has become a milestone in the Syrian art scene, as it hosted very important artistic and literary figures.

Amal Farhat