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101 Thought-Provoking Illustrations By Angel Boligan
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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
Life's Labyrinth
Playing Outside
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
Love And Generations
Parenting
Conveys the emotion as intended, as all art should evoke an emotional response. Beautiful and touching. I love this.
Fake News
yep....lies, lies, lies...most people still trust the MSM wholeheartedly
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
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.
Displaced
Ouch. Just ouch. The heartbreak of the empathetic person that I am for every refugee attempting to escape genocide in the world today quite literally hurts. If only we could act as a truly global society of civilized creatures.
Interests Pushing
Migrant's Destination
It has always been my firm belief that everywhere else is very similar to where you are, just more or less assholes to deal with.
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.
Excellency Prize At 18th World Press Freedom International Editorial Cartoon Competition
I can't tell, is this one of those school/church protection guns? Or is it one of those kill 'em all and let God sort them out guns?
Institutional Blindness
and those they do "see" are black men who are innocently slaughtered in the street like dogs
Tv Abuse
The TV as babysitter. Poisening the children's minds with adds on how happy they will be if they only have this toy or that game or such shirt.
Future
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.
Freedom Of Speech
The Old Tale
The USA: A nation of sheep, ruled by wolves and owned by swine.
Conceiving Day
