The Uncomfortable Truth: 21 Illustrations Revealing Today’s Societal Issues, By This Artist (New Pics)

In order to gain a better understanding of his journey as a cartoonist, Alireza.

His response was as follows: "I, Alireza Pakdel, was born and raised in Iran in 1981, and it was there that my passion for art was ignited at a young age as well." Having begun my adventure as a freelance cartoonist and illustrator in 1994, I have devoted myself to the art of cartooning, caricature, and illustration, and I am currently going on a journey that holds great satisfaction. Throughout the years, I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to contribute to prestigious journals, newspapers, and publishers all throughout Iran. This has allowed me to hone my talents and develop my own distinctive artistic voice.

With fifteen years of expertise under my belt, I have chosen to specialize in editorial cartoons and drawing children's books, as well as producing comic book covers and crafting pictures across a variety of genres that embrace social, cultural, and children's topics. During the course of my artistic career, I spent two years working as the art director of the weekly comic publication known as Palakhmoon. In this role, I was able to channel my creative energy into the process of creating fascinating visual narratives. Furthermore, I have been fortunate enough to be in charge of the caricature and cartoon group at the Mashhad Art Center, where I have been responsible for building a thriving artistic environment and promoting the development of emerging talent within my community. In addition to that, I have served as a judge at significant cartoon and caricature festivals held in a variety of other nations throughout the world.

Over three hundred major honors from both local and international festivals have been bestowed upon me as a result of my artistic activities, which have transcended borders. I have had the opportunity to display my artworks in a variety of solo and group exhibitions, both of which have provided me with the chance to captivate audiences with themes that provoke thinking.

My art serves as a potent vehicle for social commentary, addressing urgent themes such as the degradation of the environment, global peace, gender equality, poverty, and other forms of social injustice. I am motivated by the desire to bring about good change, and I use my art to express my thoughts and feelings. Amidst the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2020, my cartoons served as a light of hope and appreciation for frontline medical personnel all throughout the world. They garnered recognition from significant organizations and media outlets.

Over the course of my artistic career, I have produced more than five hundred caricatures of prominent political, scientific, and national personalities. Each of these caricatures is imbued with my own style, which is marked by sharp forms, basic graphics, and my signature characters with one eye. My ability to compress complicated individuals into fascinating visual storylines is reflected in these caricatures, which are a reflection of my excellent observational skills.

My unflinching dedication to the idea that art may serve as a catalyst for positive change is unshakeable. With each stroke of my pen, I make it my mission to motivate audiences all over the world, initiating meaningful conversations and cultivating empathy through the medium of my artistic expression.

Additionally, the artist provided a description of the core of his work. Each audience may have their own understanding and perception of my works, and this may sometimes be accompanied by a smile or a sadness. "I try not to provide explanations and interpretations for my works, and I allow the audience to be able to communicate with my works. 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," I said. "I allow the audience to communicate with my works."

What does a typical day look like for Alireza when she is working on a new comic? That was the question that we were wondering.

In his remark, he stated, "In general, I make it a point to concentrate a great deal and to disconnect myself from the environment that is all around me right from the start of the day." In my line of work, music is a vital component, and I always listen to music that is devoid of any lyrics when I am working. I try to watch movies and news images, observe various works of art with diverse subjects, study, watch animations, and sometimes I just study so that I can get an idea about the subject I want to create a work about. Sometimes I just study so that I can get an idea about the subject I want to create. As part of my workweek, I also have the opportunity to view the works of other artists and investigate the ideas and concepts that they have. In the stage of the work's performance, I give my full attention to the process of making the work and I avoid dealing with any chores that are not directly related to the work.

Alireza also related an instance in which the answer of a reader had a profound impact on him.

"I always take pleasure in reading the comments and opinions of the audience in the virtual world, and I have found that responding to these opinions has always assisted me in producing works that are superior and more effective. As I make an effort to comprehend both the positive and negative aspects of each viewpoint, I find that these comments occasionally provide me with additional energy to continue my artistic life with a greater sense of desire.

Last but not least, the artist discussed the things that he hopes readers would take away from his comics collection.It is important to refrain from making snap judgments, to communicate with the works with patience, and to strive for a world that is better and more beautiful by considering the subject matter and idea of each work as well as the obstacles it presents.