Art is a powerful form of expression, not just of beauty and aesthetic quality, but of ideas and protest as well. Cuban artist Angel Boligán is a master of this, delivering incredibly insightful critiques on the ills of the modern world within the confines of a single, beautifully drawn cartoon.
Boligán, who now lives in Mexico City after being invited to work at El Universal, one of the country's major newspapers, has received countless international awards and worldwide recognition for the way he highlights the rampant consumerism, loneliness, addiction and over-reliance on technology in Western society. "I am a social caricaturist, a graphic chronicler of the era in which we live," he told Bored Panda. "My drawings are usually conceptual, I like to provoke a smile accompanied by some reflection."
In his 38 years of working as a cartoonist Boligán's work has changed graphically, but he sees issues that have been recurrent in his work and are still very much relevant today. "Satire is a whip against these extreme leaders of our days," he explains. "It is a pity that humans do not learn from our history and our mistakes and we are again invaded by extremism, selfishness, blindness and mediocrity."
"The caricature does not kill anyone but it can stir the conscience. Intelligent, committed and honest humor connects with people, and I believe that we are each a very valuable grain of sand in the construction of a better world."
Boligán is inspired by life and society, and is a "hunter of ideas, emotions and the absurdities that are happening between us." He takes slices of humor, graphics, metaphors and a little poetry, and serves them up in ink with a touch of watercolor. And while he is happy in Mexico, Cuba is most definitely in his heart. "Of Cuba it is true, I left," he told us. "But I never abandoned!"
We here at Bored Panda have compiled a list of our favorite examples of Boligán's work, cartoons that will make you stop, think and perhaps realize the absurdity of our selfish and wasteful capitalist culture, which is slowly killing our relationships, our mental health and the planet we all call home.
Scroll down to check them out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!
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New Faces Of Politics
Friendship Request
i have never met a pet owner that cared more about tech than their pet. ever.
Water Business
Genders
That is really sad. I don't say that EVERY man thinks he is better than women. I know many men who are really reasonable and supporting. But it is true that even really smart and understanding ones sometimes find it hard to accept that a woman (especially young or attractive) can be as intelligent as them.
Family Portrait With A Macho
This one’s is so true. Feeding on devotion, care and life force of the other. Wearing a mask of a “real man”, protective and strong on the outside, but just a simple bully to his family. Very clever representation.
The Sweetest Kiss
Neighbours And Borders
I like this one. Basically all the resources come from one side while the other gets exclusively the profit. (And the shit, but I still haven't got that metaphor!)
Parenting
Conveys the emotion as intended, as all art should evoke an emotional response. Beautiful and touching. I love this.
Grandfather
It's a good idea to befriend people who are at least a generation older than you are. I lived with my grandmother for a number of years, and she was a walking history lesson.
Divorce
@THE ULTIMATE PUGTATO >_< My parents divorced when I was only 5, too young to understand and too old to forget. Obviously it hurt, and still does, and I cried many tears, but I will always say I am happy they got divorced. By saying they should have stayed together to spare your feeling is cruel and selfish. If you care more about your own happiness then the happiness of people who love and do everything for you, then you need to rethink your values.
Abortion, Women And Politics
What a woman does with her body is her business and her business only. If we have the baby we don't want we're shamed for being a welfare rat. If we have an abortion we're shamed for being a baby killer. If we say no to sex we're a stuck up prude. Nothing we do is right.
Justice Taken Into Their Own Hands
Little good has ever been done by carrying a gun - other than shooting the bad guy who also has a gun. Take guns out of the equation Trump - dont just suggest teachers carry them or that there need to be armed guards at religious services just in case a nutcase who has LEGALLY bought weapons decides to use them
Shepherd
I don't have a Facebook account, and I never will. The drawbacks and risks far outweigh the advantages.
Corrupt Public Worker
Alleged Offenders
why alleged? there's proof of actual abuse. just cause it's not all of them, doesnt make it untrue.
Walls And Liberties
Funny, I saw this more like a mortgage that anchor you at one place and does not allow you to go live wherever you want.
Interests Pushing
Migrant's Destination
"Le Petit Prince" he tried to find a better world, and found his own land was still better than others.
Gourmet Dish
Duel In The Hospital
You can see the patient's hand pressing the doctor's, trying to make Death win. He doesn't want his life prolonged.
Prisoner Of Myself
Socialism / Capitalism
There is plenty of room between the two extremes. Capitalism/libertarianism is too little government regulation, Communism is too much.
Internet
I don't see why is it wrong. Ok, we DO search informations in internet rather than in books, but - internet is less expensive and gives more data. It's not like people are reading less, they just use another sources. Also, people still love books, they just buy belles-lettres and fiction rather than textbooks and encyclopedies, that's all.
Excellency Prize At 18th World Press Freedom International Editorial Cartoon Competition
It's the press shining a light on guns, but bringing violence on themselves in doing so.
Blacksmith
That's really nice. Ppl should have this. Iron will!!! I wish this could be done in real life. Things will be so easier.
Masculine Conflict
Actually the symbol used is the one for the female. The male symbol is different.(at least where I am from)
Institutional Blindness
and those they do "see" are black men who are innocently slaughtered in the street like dogs
Tv Abuse
Tv is a waste of time. You have to see a lot of irrelevant things before they show you a altered fraction the truth
Future
Vegetarian
So being vegetarian kills animals and is wrong but being non- vegetarian is what Exactly. I am a veg but I don't go around telling other ppl how non-veg is bad for them(believe me I can, I have the authority). Who gives someone the right to question someone else's choice?
Access To Politics
Love it. Such a simple trick, the high heels at the bottom of the stairs and it speaks so loud and moving.
Easy Meal
Yeah, we mostly do not have to hunt or trace animals to eat them .. we just go to store.
Souvenir
Everyone is wearing and using the cross as a symbol of their faith for Jesus Christ. But in fact, they have it so to show that they have "faith". The cross is only an idol that everyone worships to and God forbids that. Furthermore, if Jesus was crucified on an electric chair for example. I guess everyone would hold an electric chair?