 A soft laughter filled the exhibition hall at the Faculty of Art, Design and
Architecture with warmth. Viewers couldn't help crack a smile, if not outright laugh. An
exhibition of Michel Kichka's caricatures was the reason why. With the bright colors and
talking bubbles, the hall is playing host to a very interesting and entertaining display.
In attendance at the grand opening of "What a Country!" were Rector Ali
Doğramacı and Mr. Gabby Levy, the Ambassador of Israel. I also had a chance to catch up
with the spokesman of the Embassy of Israel, Amit Zarouk. I wanted to get a general idea
of how he viewed the caricatures in general. He liked the cartoons very much and stated
that they accurately reflect the state of the region. He continued to say that through the
cartoons one could really feel the thoughts and the beliefs that exist in his country. He
explained that Michel Kichka, who has lectured at Bilkent University in the past, is one
of the most famous caricaturists in Israel, and knows how to touch on important points and
characteristics of Israeli society.
Were Kichka's political cartoons a problem in Israel? Absolutely not, was the answer.  Mr. Zarouk pointed out that Israel is a completely open place, and any kind
of caricature from across the political spectrum can be found- from right to left, from
religious to secular. Whatever you like, you can find it! I asked him his views on Turkish
caricatures. He was familiar with a few Turkish caricaturists whose work appears in the
newspapers he follows everyday, and found them to be very educational. Like he said,
caricatures can often be easier understood than written material. I was also interested in
whether he felt that caricatures and caricaturists deserve the recognition and power that
they have in the media at present. He expressed that they play a very important place in
people's lives, and that this is an age of pictures, paintings and images more than text.
Over time, he believes that this medium will grow in importance.
Overall "What a Country!" is very enjoyable and interesting. I think caricatures
have a catchy way of grabbing a viewer's attention, which is no easy feat for an artist.
This exhibition not only tells us how everyday life is for people in Israel, but has an
underlying political message on how cultural and religious differences can be overcome.
The caricatures were nicely done, funny are guaranteed to leave you with a smile…whether
you want it there or not.
Alev Değim (COMD/III)
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