The creation of a Museum of Greek Cartoons was announced by the president of the Hellenic Parliament

The Hellenic Parliament is proceeding with the creation of a Museum dedicated to the most prolific Greek cartoons, in the emblematic building of the former Public Tobacco Factory in Lenorman, as announced by the president of the Parliament, Kostas Tassoulas, inaugurating the retrospective exhibition of cartoons “The Transition of Cartoonists” which is hosted at the Syntagma Metro, in the context of the anniversary events for the 50th anniversary of the Post-colonization.

As the president of the Parliament noted, “cartoonists have the ability to understand much more and capture it with their pen. In a scathing, but not derogatory way. And in a country where seriousness prevails”, adding that “this report, as well as other similar initiatives, I am sure will help to overcome this seriousness, which has nothing to do with seriousness, and to understand that this view of things and persons is much more efficient, much more consultative and much more critical than any record and than any article”.

Addressing the politicians, he emphasized that “caricature is not a threat, it is not a danger, it is welcome. Because with such a penetrating look, the cartoonist often helps us to understand ourselves and we need that.”

Vassilis Mitropoulos, who has won many awards in Greece and abroad and has a long career in Greek cartooning, known as Bas, offered the Speaker of the Parliament a sketch of his entitled “The… Guides of the Country since 1944”, which he depicts with his unique way the Greek Prime Ministers from the liberation onwards, starting with Konstantinos Tsaldaris and reaching Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The exhibition is organized by the Club of Greek Cartoonists, under the auspices of the President of the Republic, Mrs. Katerina Sakellaropoulou, with the support of the Hellenic Parliament, the Ministry of Culture, OPANDA, STASY and the Educational Foundation of ESIEA.

Sixty-seven cartoonists exhibit 423 cartoons, outlining, through their works, 50 years of uninterrupted Democracy, from July 1974 with the fall of the Junta until today, with major and varied historical events recorded through the humor and satire of cartooning. production. These sketches were published in the print and electronic press from July 1974 until July 2024.

The exhibition will be open to the public until October 19, with free entry, from 9.00 am. until 9.00 p.m.

Forewording the edition related to the Report, the president of the Parliament noted:

“I am sure that the best guide for the younger generations in the history of post-colonization, a history of half a century already, will be the Cartoon Exhibition entitled “The post-colonization of cartoonists – 50 years of the Third Hellenic Republic”. And this, because through the satirical feast of more than 400 cartoons, which are captured, and why not immortalized, in the accompanying album of the Exhibition, the reader’s “visit” to the history of post-colonization, to the history of 50 years, 1974 – 2024, will be and charming, but also instructive,

The political cartoon records people and events, comments on them in its inimitable humorous way, serves current affairs, but does not ignore the deeper meaning of the events and then forces you, that is, inspires you, to search for yourself in history and claim more knowledge on the occasion of the successful cartoon and then the satire becomes a teaching and the theme is supplemented by the calculus. And this is why this Exhibition and its booklet can become the best tour guide or explainer, as the tour guides used to be called, of the transition.

In 1975 in Alsos Kifissia, the Deputy Ministry of Press organized a World Cartoon Exhibition entitled “A time of democracy”, with the participation of 350 cartoonists from all over the world, who with their work showed their solidarity for the return of democracy to Greece.

Today, more than 400 cartoons by 67 Greek and Greek artists are once again uniquely representing the more than 50 years that have passed since the restoration of democracy in 1974. The Hellenic Parliament, which welcomes satire over time, congratulates the Greek Cartoonists Club for the anniversary and multiply fruitful this initiative of hers, in which she willingly supports”.