With all those terrible events going on in the world: the terror attacks in Nice (France) and in Istanbul (Turkey), the killing of cops (USA), Erdogan and the coup failure (Turkey), daily terror acts here in Israel etc.., I felt a strange need to bring a smile to my face. So, this week I found myself at the Museum of caricatures and comics located in the city of Holon.
On the roof of the building, stands the self-portrait poster caricature of Zeev (pen name), the most famous israeli caricaturist. He died in 2002 at the age of 79. His family has donated all his cartoon works to the museum.
The poster with the self portrait was probably placed at first at the entrance stairs (see Wikipedia picture) and moved, for some good reason, to the top of the building.
Zeev - self portrait (Wikipedia)
My favorite is his cartoon of the Peace process (between Israel and the arabs). So simple, and yet expressing something so complex and hard to achieve!
the Peace process
His caricatures of political figures are just genious. However, nowadays, I'm so fed up with politicians and their politics that even a good political caricature doesn't make me smile.
The museum honors the veteran cartoonists both outside and inside the building. In the area near the entrance there are wooden posters representing some of their work.
On the walls of the staircase hall that leads to the museum - there are biographical facts about these outstanding israeli cartoonists and samples of their work - framed and covered with glass. Even on the elevator's room door there are caricatures.
the door to the elevator's room
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that photography is allowed within the museum, despite the fact that its tiny shop is interested in selling cards, catalogues and books based on the stuff they have in the archives and galleries. However, with my shoot and point little camera I couldn't do much about those displayed delicate exhibits.
gallery
The museum hosts permanent exhibitions as well as changing ones. It has a room for educational activities too, and some audio-video equipment.
activities' room
During my visit there, I focused on the displayed exhibits of the late Friedl Stern, a well-know israeli cartoon journalist - caricatures on the theme of Adam and Eve from her book 'Fig Leaves".
They say there are only about twelve such museums in the world. If this is true then it's a Pity! I think there should be more of this kind.
