In a letter to MOCAK director Maria Anna Potocka, the organization wrote that "in the face of the genocide of the Palestinian population perpetrated by Israel, the mounting of the exhibition is a disgraceful move."
In its view “the Israeli artist openly professes the occupant’s propaganda and negates the ongoing tragedy”.
In an artist’s note to the exhibition, which is entitled “Cartooning on the Frontline”, Kichka writes: “The exhibition shows a selection of the cartoons I drew about two different wars: a war in my motherland and a war in another country, far away from my home."
He added: "Usually, in peaceful times, I draw with a smile, with sarcasm and gentle provocation. Since October 7, the date of the barbaric attack on Israel by Hamas, the way I draw has changed. With my pencil and brush I try to support my people, to give strength to the families of the hostages, to express my deep mourning to families who lost their mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters and brothers, to send my empathy to the wounded, to the traumatized and to those who have become refugees in their own country."
The Israeli artist adds: “At the same time, I remain critical towards my government’s policy and priorities. I’m anxious for the innocent victims on both sides.”
In reference to his cartoons on Russia’s invasion against Ukraine, Kichka writes: “I do my best to depict my revulsion towards the Russian dictator, which is my way of expressing solidarity with the people of Ukraine.”
In her response to Kraków dla Palestyny’s letter of protest, the MOCAK director wrote: ”Punishing an opposition artist for his [Israeli] citizenship is a cultural injustice.”
She draws a paralel to 1968, recalling that Polish artists at the time were not punished in Europe for being the citizens of a country which participated in the invasion of Czechoslovakia.
Michel Kichka is one of the most prominent Israeli caricature and comics artists. Born in Belgium in 1954, he emigrated to Israel at the age of 20. He is a lecturer at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem and has been working closely with the French weekly Courrier International, the US news channel CNN and the International Herald Tribune.
He is a member of the organisation Cartooning for Peace.
(mk)
Source: Gazeta Krakowska, MOCAK