Competition — 2006

International Political Cartoon Competition
Sponsored by the Morning Star and The Political Cartoon Gallery (London, UK).

The first Ken Sprague International Political Cartoon Competition was a huge success. Over 200 cartoonists from 44 countries submitted cartoons on the themes of peace, social justice and humanitarian values. The jury of leading cartoonists, Martin Rowson and Steve Bell, trade unionists Frances O’Grady and Ken Gill, artists Jackson Sprague and Michal Boñcza were impressed by the high standard of submissions.

It was decided to award two joint first prizes and one third prize. In making their decision the jury said that the cartoon on the subject of peace by Edik Boghosian Konaraki from Iran was an original and imaginative way of presenting a well-worn subject, using simple means in an effective and graphic manner. Peace has been ossified for generations, but the small green olive branch showed that there was still hope of achieving it in our lifetimes - it sent a powerful message.

The cartoon by Zhang Bin from China, also on the subject of peace, revealed excellent draughtsmanship and it was again a very powerful image, recycling the Biblical exhortation to ‘turn our swords into ploughshares’. The third prize-winner, Raimundo Waldez da C. Duarte from Brazil, showed a sharply satirical sense of humour and provided a comical take while conveying a serious undertone message. It portrayed, with biting humour, the military’s disdain for peace - for them the only goal being selfish indulgence.

Cartoonists from the following countries submitted their work:

Argentina, Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, Palestine, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Serbia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Syria, Tanzania, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA and Uzbekistan.