Starting on November 9, the Museum of Humor and Satire presents the Cartoon Salon 2023, a traditional autumn event focusing on caricature. It includes 3 exhibitions featuring 32 artists and nearly 200 artworks, including the 48th National Cartoon Exhibition and solo exhibitions by cartoonists Mario Ivanov and Sergey Elkin.
Hall 3 – Stefan Furtunov, Museum of Humor and Satire
Opening: November 9, 17:30
Duration: November 9, 2023 – February 25, 2024
48th National Cartoon Exhibition
The National Cartoon Exhibition is an annual overview of the highest achievements of contemporary Bulgarian artists working in various genres of caricature. Traditionally, the artists showcase works from the past year, reflecting events in our public and political life, as well as a global perspective on enduring human themes.
Within the Cartoon Salon 2023, the Museum of Humor and Satire presents selected works from the 48th National Cartoon Exhibition by the following artists:
Alexander Simov,Alla and Chavdar Georgievi,Anatoli Stankulov,Anri Kulev,Anton Konstantinov,Dimitar Atanasov,Galen Ivanov,Irina Kitanova,Irina Trendafilova,Ismail Kera,Ivaylo Tsvetkov,Kalin Nikolov,Khalid Kurtulmush,Kiril Manov,Louisa Homel,Lyubomir Mihaylov,Margarita Yancheva,Marina Gorelova,Mario Ivanov,Maya Cholakova,Milko Dikov,Miroslav Bozhkov,Nikola Georgiev – Kayo,Rosen Jordanov,Stoyan Chernikov,Stoyan Dechev,Svetlin Stefanov,Tsvetan Pavlov,Tzotcho Peev,Valentin Georgiev,Valeri Alexandrov – Valeks.
Solo Exhibition by Sergey Elkin
Born in 1962 in Vorkuta, Northern Russia, Sergey Elkin originally studied architecture and was involved in city planning until the late 1980s. He participated in the development of comprehensive plans for Voronezh, Belgorod, and Stary Oskol. With the dissolution of the USSR, he moved into the newspaper business, working as an artistic editor and later as the chief editor of several Russian newspapers. Since 1998, he has been a professional caricaturist.
His move to Moscow allowed him to collaborate with central Russian publications. After the introduction of censorship on political cartoons, he began drawing for opposition publications. In recent years, his work has been published in Izvestia, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, The Moscow Times, Vedomosti, Polit.ru, The Guardian, Economist, Svoboda.org, and many others. His cartoons primarily feature Russian politicians.
He is the author of the book “Two-Headed Russia: A History in Pictures” (2014). In 2017, he received the Gerd Bucerius Award for “Free Press in Eastern Europe.” Sergey Elkin is the most renowned Russian cartoonist outside the country.
Metamorphoses
Solo Exhibition by Mario Ivanov
Mario Ivanov – Maxter is a graphic designer specializing in packaging design. He is passionate about logo design and illustration and is a member of the “Plakat Kombinat” platform for poster art. He is a music enthusiast and a collector of vinyl records.
He studied Design at the “Acad. Ananie Yavashov” Humanitarian Gymnasium in Razgrad and holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Industrial Design from the Technical University of Varna.
In recent years, he has participated in the Illustration Biennial in Sofia, several editions of the National Cartoon Exhibition, “Europe in Bulgarian,” and “Personalities, Heroes, Inspirations” by the “Plakat Kombinat” platform. He has also contributed to the Gabrovo Biennial of Humor and Satire, as well as to joint cartoon exhibitions in Turkey, Macedonia, and Bulgaria.
He has received a special award from the Museum of Humor and Satire at the 48th National Cartoon Exhibition in Sofia in 2023. He has received distinctions in various cartoon and design competitions in Bulgaria.
His work has been published in numerous humorous newspapers. He has also contributed to magazines like “Elle,” “EVA,” “Manager,” and “Programata.”
We are sharing photos from the opening on November 9, 2023.
