Turks in eye of German cartoonists in exhibit

ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

The exhibit, which depicts Turks living in Germany for the last 50 years, provides people with a look at how German cartoonists evaluated the subject of Turks migrating into Germany.

Cartoons about Turkish people, published in German newspapers and magazines, have been collected in a new exhibition in Ankara, titled “50 Years, 20 Cartoons: Turkish People from the Perspective of German Cartoonists.”

The exhibition, which depicts Turks living in Germany for the last 50 years, is the result of a study of Murat Erdoğan, from Hacettepe University. The exhibition provides people with a look at how German cartoonists evaluated the subject of Turks migrating into Germany over the last 50 years.

As German cartoonists use their cartoons to criticize their own policies and society, Erdoğan said it was also possible to see their perspective on Turkish people.

Many important things about a society end up showcased in cartoons, according to Erdoğan. “I collect cartoons and I have been working as a cartoon researcher for 20 years. That’s why we’ve decided to prepare such an exhibition for the 50 year [anniversary] of migration from Turkey to Germany.”

The exhibition has previously been shown in Berlin and Istanbul. “We have experienced huge interest and now we are planning to carry the exhibition to Dortmund and Brussels,” said Erdoğan.

Some of the cartoons focus on star footballer Mesut Özil, and sometimes on Islamic characters in Germany, as well as other features of Turkish-German life, such as döner kebabs.

The exhibition continues until April 28 at Ankara’s German Cultural Center.