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Bored Panda reached out to Alireza to learn more about his journey as a cartoonist.
He responded: “I, Alireza Pakdel, was born and raised in Iran in 1981, where my passion for art ignited at a young age. Since 1994, I have dedicated myself to the craft of cartooning, caricature, illustrating, and embarking on a fulfilling journey as a freelance cartoonist and illustrator. Over the years, I've had the privilege of contributing to esteemed magazines, newspapers, and publishers across Iran, honing my skills and refining my unique artistic voice.
With 15 years of experience under my belt, I've specialized in editorial cartoons & illustrating children's books, designing comic book covers, and crafting illustrations across various genres encompassing social, cultural, and children's themes. My artistic journey led me to serve as the art director of the weekly comic publication, Palakhmoon, where I poured my creativity into shaping captivating visual narratives for two years. Additionally, I've had the honor of managing the caricature and cartoon group at the Mashhad Art Center, nurturing budding talent within my community and fostering a vibrant artistic ecosystem. I have also worked as a judge in important cartoon and caricature festivals in different countries of the world.
My artistic endeavors have transcended borders, earning me over 300 prestigious awards from both domestic and foreign festivals. Through numerous solo and group exhibitions, I've had the opportunity to showcase my artworks, captivating audiences with thought-provoking themes.”
“Driven by a desire to effect positive change, I use my art as a powerful medium for social commentary, addressing pressing issues such as environmental degradation, global peace, gender equality, poverty, and other social injustices. In 2020, amidst the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, my cartoons served as a beacon of hope and appreciation for frontline medical workers worldwide, garnering recognition from prominent organizations and media outlets.
Throughout my artistic journey, I've created over 500 caricatures of influential political, scientific, and national figures, each imbued with my distinctive style characterized by sharp forms, minimal graphics, and my signature one-eyed characters. These caricatures reflect my keen observation and ability to distill complex personalities into compelling visual narratives.
My commitment to using art as a catalyst for positive change remains unwavering. With every stroke of my pen, I strive to inspire audiences globally, sparking meaningful conversations and fostering empathy through my artistry.”
The artist also described the essence of his work. “I try not to provide explanations and interpretations for my works, and I allow the audience to be able to communicate with my works and, according to the points and ideas in the work, they can find a deeper understanding of it, and think about the correct connection with the work will flourish, and each audience may have their own understanding and perception of my works, and this is sometimes accompanied by a smile and sadness.”
We were wondering what a typical day looks like for Alireza when working on a new comic.
He commented: “Usually, from the beginning of the day, I try to focus a lot and cut off my connection with the environment around me. Music is an inseparable part of my work, and I always listen to music without words while working. When I find ideas to create a work, I try to watch movies and news photos, observe many works of art with different subjects, study, watch animations, and sometimes I just study so that I can get an idea about the subject I want. Also, seeing the works of other artists and researching their thoughts and ideas is part of my workday. During the stage of the performance of the work, I completely concentrate on creating the work and avoid dealing with side tasks.”
Alireza also shared a time when a reader's response really touched him.
“I always enjoy reading the comments and opinions of the audience in the virtual space, and addressing these opinions has always helped me to create better and more effective works. I try to understand the positive and negative points of each opinion and sometimes these comments give me extra energy to continue my artistic life with more motivation.”
Lastly, the artist shared what he would like for people to take away from his comics.“Don't judge hastily, communicate with the works patiently, and try to reach a better and more beautiful world by thinking about the subject and idea of each work and its challenges.”
