JORDAN: Cartoonist Emad Hajjaj holds exhibition in Amman

Record ID: 226144

  • Title: JORDAN: Cartoonist Emad Hajjaj holds exhibition in Amman
  • Date: 5th August 2008
  • Summary: CARTOONIST EMAD HAJJAJ TOURING WITH VISITORS
  • Embargoed: 20th August 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jordan
  • Country: Jordan
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVAENE1J55JARREYQ2BKJRT7XW62
  • Story Text: Political satirist Emad Hajjaj showcases his most popular works in Amman and launches a new book of political cartoons.
    Political satirist Emad Hajjaj showcased an anthology of his most popular works, past and present, in Amman on Sunday (August 3).
    Hosted by the City Hall gallery, the exhibit also launches Hajjaj's latest book entitled "Mahjoubiat" (Abou Mahjoub Creative Production), an anthology of his works over the past ten years.
    Hajjaj's two protagonists, a Jordanian and a Palestinian, have captured the Arab imagination over the years: the first, Abou Mahjoub, sporting a red chequered Jordanian kafiyya scarf, the second Abou Mohammed, a short stout Jordanian of Palestinian origin.
    "This is the second exhibition featuring the character Abou Mahjoub. It is an opportunity to meet Abou Mahjoub's fans after a long absence, nearly ten years. I am also showcasing an anthology of my works, the published and unpublished," Emad Hajjaj told Reuters on the opening night.
    Jordan is home to the largest Palestinian refugee population in the world -- over 1.7 million registered -- many of whom were naturalised as citizens of the Hashemite Kingdom in the 1950s. They now constitute an estimated one half of the Jordanian population.
    Hajjaj's Palestinian roots are apparent in his works, which tackle both Jordanian and pan-Arab issues. The artist was born in the West Bank in 1967 where he was schooled by UNRWA at the Wehdat Refugee Camp. After graduating from Yarmouk University with a BA in Fine Arts and a minor in Journalism, Hajjaj worked for a number of Jordanian and Arab newspapers, including the leading Jordanian Daily al-Rai from where he was fired for a controversial cartoon in 2000.
    Still living in Amman, Hajjaj, 47, publishes in al-Ghad newspaper, the London-based Arab daily al-Quds al-Arabi and on numerous websites, including his own, www.mahjoob.com.
    "The cartoons tackle social, political and economic issues and a number of turning points for the Jordanian people over the past ten years, from economic crises and price hikes to social problems such as honour crimes and children born out of wedlock," Hajjaj said.
    The satirist has received a number of awards over his decade-long career, including the Arab Press Award 2006 and the Best Published Cartoon in Arab Media 2005 for a cartoon entitled "The Crying Arab Camel".
    Visitors said they admired the artists' daring, as well has his candid reflections of daily Arab life.
    "He had to sever many relationships because of his cartoons and often suffered as a result. However, Hajjaj has been diligent, serious and active in adopting popular art and thought. He reflects the daily lives of people around the Arab world -- embodied in the two characters, a Palestinian and a Jordan," said journalist Emad Hmoud.
    Whether it is a woman called "Baghdad" being raped by an American soldier under the approving gaze of Gulf men or a man protesting the rise of fuel prices in his underwear, Hajjaj's works continue to impress upon his readers.
    The Emad Hajjaj exhibition is running from August 3rd to 14th at the City Hall gallery in Amman.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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