Aydın Doğan Cartoon Awards presented for 30th time

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

The Federation of Cartoonist Organizations (FECO) Chairman Peter Nieuwendijk presented a plaque to Aydın Doğan for his support to the art of cartoons over 30 years.

The award ceremony of the 30th Aydın Doğan Cartoon Contest was held on Oct. 24 at Istanbul’s Hilton Convention Center. Polish cartoonist Krzysztof Grzondziel’s work, which particularly focuses on the damage caused by wars, won the first prize in this year’s contest. The second prize of the contest went to Turkish artist Asuman Küçükkantarcılar and third prize to Luxembourger Pol Leurs.

Istanbul Governor Hüseyin Mutlu, Doğan Holding Honorary Chairman Aydın Doğan, Aydın Doğan Foundation President Hanzade Doğan Boyner, Doğan TV Holding President Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ, Yandex President Mehmet Ali Yalçındağ, Hurriyet Editor-In-Chief Enis Berberoğlu, Hürriyet Publishing Consultant Doğan Hızlan, Hürriyet columnist Ertuğrul Özkök and Kanal D Holding CEO İrfan Şahin were among those attending the ceremony.

Hanzade Doğan Boyner said that cartoons focused on pains and problems in common, adding: “Our world is being damaged by wars and conflicts. Tens of thousands of people are dying; millions of people leave their homeland and search for a shelter. The world of cartoons is the closest witness of this worrisome situation of humanity. It flings the reality in our faces even with a small drawing and mostly makes us think. Cartoons that are on display here today focus on our common pain and problem. It mirrors our cares in life.”

The Istanbul governor congratulated the Aydın Doğan Foundation for supporting art and artists, saying: “Cartoonists are powerful artists who express ideas with drawings rather than writing. We feel the power of lines here. They can tell us something with a small cartoon.”

The Federation of Cartoonist Organizations (FECO) Chairman Peter Nieuwendijk presented a plaque to Aydın Doğan for his support to the art of cartoons over 30 years. He said that the contest was a platform to bring together world cartoonists, adding, “The Aydın Doğan International Cartoon Contest is the most respectable one in the world. Cartoonists and the public share their ideas on this platform. Without this support of the Aydın Doğan Foundation, it would not be possible.”

The winner of the contest, Grzondziel, could not attend the ceremony but his son Kamil Grzondziel received the award from Aydın Doğan and Mutlu. The winner of the second prize, Küçükkantarcılar, was presented her award by the Turkish Journalists Association Deputy Chairman Vahap Munyar and Hurriyet Editor-In-Chief Berberoğlu. The winner of the third prize, Leurs, received his award from Kanal D Holding CEO Şahin. Also, 12 cartoonists were presented achievement awards by the Aydın Doğan Foundation Executive Board Chairwoman Candan Fetvacı and Doğan Holding CEO Yahya Üzdiyen at the ceremony.

The exhibition of the contest will be open until Nov. 15 at the Caddebostan Culture Center.

Polish cartoonist Krzysztof Grzondziel’s work won the first prize in this year’s contest.