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Cartoonists decry the lack of interest in their talents

Political cartoonists yesterday lamented newspapers' declining interest in their craft, which has forced some to switch careers.

"Since the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] came to power in 2000, more local political cartoonists have had a hard time finding a job," said graphic artist Lin Kuei-yu (ªL«¶¦ö), popularly known as Yu-fu (³½¤Ò). "I'm afraid someday we might have to show off our craft on our personal blogs."

Lin, who works in both the animation picture business and architecture, made the remark while meeting with Vice President Annette Lu (§f¨q½¬).

He was one of eight political cartoonists invited by Lu to a tea party at the Presidential Office yesterday afternoon.

Lin attributed the decline of interest in political cartoons to artists' reluctance to criticize the DPP administration because they were good friends to DPP officials during the dangwai ("outside the KMT") period.

Echoing Lin's opinions, Peng Jin-yang (´^ÀA¶§) said he felt sorry to see his "old comrades" gradually lose the room to show off their talent, leaving only a few in pro-independence newspapers such as the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times' sister newspaper) and the Taiwan Daily News.

"I sincerely hope the administration and media owners recognize the unfavorable situation local political cartoonists are facing and give them more encouragement, support and room," he said.

Lu said she still thinks there is a market for political cartoons, because Taiwan is a free and democratic society where the media can chasten the nation's leaders and politicians.

Lu then said she was curious to know who had likened her to a "deserted concubine left in the harem of despair," since she had never called herself that.

Tong Jin-mao (µ£ÀA­Z) raised his hand, saying he had portrayed her as a "deserted concubine," because it seemed like a funny idea.

Both Tong and Ling Chun (­â¸s) have stopped drawing political cartoons because the local market is too small for them to survive in, they said.

Ling also called on the government to listen more to the people's voice and spend more energy improving their livelihood rather than continue their political maneuvering.

Lo Ching-chong (ù¼y©¾), better known as L.C.C., showed off a caricature of Lu he did in 2001. In the black-and-white drawing, Lu sports a bird's nest-like hairdo, with a bird perched in it.

Lo yesterday said that seeing Lu in person inspired him.

Chen Chih-lung (³¯¦Ü¶©), popularly known as Hunter (Ây¤H) and one of the few practicing political cartoonists today, proposed that Lu help them publish a book in which the nation's political cartoonists could show off their talent.

Lu, however, said she didn't think she was powerful enough to fulfill their request, and instead invited the guests to work together on the project.
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